Thailand enforces EU chemical ban
traces banned by the EU could face the closure of their businesses,
as well as a ban on exporting, according to a report in the
Bangkok Post.
Shrimp and chicken processors whose products contain chemical traces banned by the EU could face the closure of their businesses, as well as a ban on exporting, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.
The tough measures proposed by government officials are a response to tightened food safety inspections in the European Union, where imports of Thai shrimps and poultry have fallen sharply this year following a number of high profile seizures by customs officers there.
The move to tighten inspections of exports follows talks in Brussels last week between Thai authorities and European Union officials.
The results of the inspections, from farms to ports, will be overseen by a special committee chaired by the Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan.
Officials would also be required to check distributors of chemicals to ensure they are not selling any prohibited substances to food and beverage processors, said officials.
"Their licences to sell will be revoked if there is any violation," a government official stated.
Thailand is keen to comply with the enforced EU regulations because the European market makes up a significant proportion of poultry and shrimp exports. Thai officials have stated that any food processor not complying with the new regulations would face an export ban.
The government has said that it now has three testing machines to detect chemical residues in shrimp and chicken meat.
The equipment can detect residues to the extent set out in the EU standard. Two more machines are being installed and are expected to be ready to use by next week.
