Thread: The Failing Image of Thai Produce

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

unacceptable traces of chemicals

Such as DDT, which is still widely used here.

Are all Thai imports into Europe liable to the 100% import duty as most European imports are into Thailand?

Temporary ban on 16 kinds of greens : National News Bureau of Thailand

Temporary ban on 16 kinds of greens

BANGKOK, 13 January 2011 (NNT) –The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is prepared to inform the European Union of the temporary ban on 16 difference kinds of vegetable, hoping to complete a major revamp of the industry’s production and quality control processes within 6 months.

According to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Supachai Phosu, the ministry is submitting a report to the European Union informing it of the temporary ban on 16 types of vegetables, beginning on February 1. The ministry has been in the process of restructuring and improving the production and quality control processes at the farm and official levels.

Once the restructuring is completed, the ministry will request that the EU inspect and assess the industry’s production, quality control, and export processes to ensure that products exported to the EU are insect-free. The ban will be lifted and export resumed after the inspection has been done and all the processes approved, which should take no longer than 5 or 6 months, said Supachai. Exporters found to have violated the ban will be subjected to a stiff fine or a prison term of up to 5 years.

DDT yes.
it's why you really need to wash those thai veggies.

Originally Posted by billy the kid

it's why you really need to wash those thai veggies.

Good policy in any country.

I'm sure Thailand needs to improve standards but all too often the EU and the US agencies which set the rules for imported agricultural goods are nothing more than bureaucracies whose main objective is protecting local producers from competition.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/o...at-last-minute

COMMENTARY

Acting on unsafe food at last minute

• Published: 14/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

A move by the European Union to ban 16 kinds of vegetable from Thailand has caused chaos among Thai exporters, as well as for Thai restaurants and fans of Thai food on that continent.

The high-profile ban covers indispensable ingredients for authentic Thai dishes - like varieties of basil, chilli and capsicum peppers, eggplants, bitter gourd and parsley.

The EU was considering the ban after it found traces of insect contamination, as well as farm chemicals, in our fresh produce.

And I can assure you this is not the first time EU officials have detected the contamination. In fact it's a long story - before the ban was even seriously considered.

In order to avoid the EU's tough measure, the Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry opted for a self-imposed ban; it is understood that the problem will be solved with more stringent "quality inspection" of shipments of the 16 vegetables in question. It is well understood that once the EU slaps the ban on our produce, it will be very difficult to have it removed.

Well, it remains to be seen if the self-imposed measures will eventually work within the limited time.

Of course, the whole issue has tarnished Thailand's reputation as "Kitchen of the World" - a strenuous and successful campaign to promote Thai food abroad.

But how can we be the world's kitchen if our food is not safe?

We have to admit that while we are proud of the taste of Thai food, we (in this case I mean the government agencies) somehow pay little, if any, attention to the issue of food safety, in particular when it comes to chemical residues in vegetables.

While the EU is concerned with the health of its people, it is quite sad to see how Thai consumers have little choice when it comes to food safety.

Occasionally, there are news reports about test results by the Public Health Ministry which show chemical residues that go beyond the safety standard in the vegetables on sale at the market. We are encouraged to take precautions when buying the produce. Occasionally, we are given a list of the produce that tends to have excessive residues; these include cucumber, lettuce, spring onion, parsley, etc.

But such a list, without a solution, frustrates us even more.

Those who cook at home may be in a better position to take care of their own health by choosing organically grown vegetables, which cost a lot more. Or if they have to buy those in the conventionally-grown category, they can still clean the produce thoroughly, at least to a point where they feel it is safe to eat.

Unfortunately, not many people can do that. So many of us, particularly office workers and labourers who spend much of our time outside the home, have to depend on food shops. And we have no idea if these food shops care about our health. I bet many of them don't.

For me, I always look for organic produce for my kitchen and that brings another kind of headache - it's not easy to find organic produce at the conventional market.

But I have to admit that things are better than before now that there are quite a few "once a week" green markets in Bangkok, thanks to the efforts of a civic network advocating green issues.

Compared to the state, the green network is making good progress in promoting food safety. The past green fair at Lumphini Park was quite a success.

Can the state, in particular the Agriculture Ministry, do better?

Yes, but it needs strong political will to free itself from giant farm chemical firms and set itself on the right path of food safety.

Ploenpote Atthakor writes for the Life section, Bangkok Post.

I have found it quite alarming what can be aquired from our local farm supliers off the shelf. What is amazing is that the locals will use what is offered without having any idea of what the long term effects the chemicals can have or what they truly are.

Another side to this terrible truth is that I once introduced a local farmer to a quite simple natural substitute. He actually had excellent results from a Thai chilly extract sprayed onto his vegtables to stop a infestation. Since he has been follwing this simple solution and sharing the idea.

Organic growing can take hold in the LOS especially if it can save them some money.

They should boycott dioxin poisoned products, including animal feed, from Germany then.

Washing this contaminated produce is also not the answer !
Find alternative methods of pesticide control.
The EU will find alternative sources for supply, it will offer import licences to Africa as if its doing Africa a favour in return for copper, oil, bauxite etc etc.
Might even give some more subsidy to France for its agriculture !

[quote=Bower;1657255]Washing this contaminated produce is also not the answer !


Quite correct: Very long residual effects are associated with pesticides. This is due to their chemical compositions and derivatives

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...it-by-food-ban

CONTAMINATION

Overseas restaurants hard hit by food ban

• Published: 19/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Thai restaurants in Europe are facing ruin as a result of a ban on fresh vegetable and fruit exports after EU officials found shipments to be contaminated with insects.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's Agriculture Department will impose a ban from Feb 1 on exports of 16 vegetables in five categories: basil, chilli and capsicum, eggplant, bitter gourds and parsley.

The Association of Thai Business in the UK has called on the government to toughen food safety checks following the reports of contaminated produce in an effort to regain the trust of European Union authorities.

The EU alerted Thailand before last September that contaminated shipments had been discovered and it began banning further imports in December.

Association vice-chairman Wanchai Poonum said fresh produce exporters and Thai restaurants were suffering after the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry responded to the EU action by limiting fresh produce exports to the EU.

Restaurateurs say they have been unable to secure enough supplies since last September.

The Commerce and Agriculture and Cooperatives ministries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the National Food Institute have agreed to push vegetable production standards on to the national agenda to ensure the safety of consumers in the EU and other overseas markets.

"Now we have to turn to fresh produce from Vietnam and India and the shortage is causing the prices to go up some 30%," Mr Wanchai said.

He said the association would hold talks with Thai businesses on the issue at the Thai embassy in London on Jan27.

"The government has to deal straightforwardly with the problem and solve it at once," he said.

Mr Wanchai said the problem could hurt exports to Japan and the US if it was allowed to persist.

Nooror Somany Steppe, founding partner of Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant which has seven restaurants in Europe, said Thai vegetables such as sweet basil and holy basil were used in all her restaurants' curries. Even the Blue Elephant Trade Office, which exports fresh and dry ingredients, has had to put these products on hold.

"I have to rely on our own blended curry paste, which is not affected by the ban since it goes through a pasteurising process. It's not as good as using fresh ingredients, but it's better than not having any at all," Ms Nooror said, adding she had tried Italian basil but the taste was totally different.

"Farmers need to find a way around this problem _ perhaps exporting frozen vegetables."

The proprietor of Suk Saran Restaurant in Wimbledon, London, said Thai restaurants were severely affected by the vegetable shortage. "Sweet basil is the heart of many Thai dishes," she said, asking not to be named.

"Without it, the standard and quality of our food drops. True, we can opt for ready-made paste, but it just doesn't taste the same."

The restaurant owner said suppliers warned her about two months ago that there would be a shortage of sweet basil.

"At the time, we didn't know the reason for the shortage. After that, it became more and more scarce, until around Christmas time it was impossible to get hold of it at all. It was like that for a few weeks."

The price was expensive, increasing from 9.60 (about 470 baht) a kilogramme to almost 20 (about 970 baht).

"But we had no choice but to buy it because we need it to make our food taste good. We are hoping that the government will do something about this as many Thai restaurants here are in big trouble," the restaurant owner said.

SD,

This article surprises me to the fact that Thailand has such a great potential to produce all of its own produce and meat. It almost does not make sense that they import food into this country.

With the recent events in Asia Pacific I see food going through the roof. This may be a good deal for Thailand to become self sufficient.

need to go to the pharmacy to get
a substance to clean veggies.
DDT devastated wild life in n. ireland.
banned it about 50 or 60 years ago.
if you're vegan in the east
be careful.

It is a shame of what we have done to this planet. We can only go forward now. It is time to take into consideration what we do for the future, for our childrens sake.

Bangkok Post : Pesticide levels pose threat to Thai vegetable exports

Pesticide levels pose threat to Thai vegetable exports

• Published: 26/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Researchers are calling for a reduction in the types of pesticides that can be registered for use at local farms because of concerns the European Union might ban Thai vegetable exports.

The sharp increase in pesticide use by Thai farmers has alarmed international markets.

One researcher said the Department of Agriculure also needed to impose a complete ban on four hazardous chemicals still used in Thailand but not in any developed country.

Rapichan Phurisamban, of Biothai, said the country's record of pesticide use was worrying. Thailand imported 42,089 tonnes of pesticides in 1997 but that figure had risen to 137,594 tonnes in 2009.

Food and Agriculture Organisation figures for 2007 show Thailand had 27,126 agricultural chemical brands registered for use - more than China (20,000), Vietnam (1,743), Indonesia (1,158, Malaysia (917), Burma (818 and Laos (100) combined.

"[It is] not only that the country is consuming a massive amount of chemicals, we have also found that farmers still use agricultural chemicals that have been banned in many countries," Ms Rapichan said.
"They are carbofuran, dicrotophos, methomyl and EPN.

"The department should urgently ban these hazardous chemicals in line with international practice."

The present list of pesticides approved for use should also be reduced. The list of pesticides approved for use is due to expire in August.

The EU recently found prohibited chemicals in imported vegetables including basil, chili, Chinese bitter cucumber and bean. Fears of a possible EU ban on Thai vegetables has prompted the government to order a temporary suspension of shipments.

Dr Pattapong Kessomboon of the Department of Community Medicine at Khon Kaen University expressed concern over the government's alleged ignorance of the uncontrolled use of dangerous chemicals on vegetables.

"We were warned about chemical-contaminated vegetables 26 times in 2009 and up to 55 times last year," said Dr Pattapong, a member of the Thailand Pesticide Network.

"But there has been no quick response from the state agencies concerned. We expect the EU to ban our vegetable exports soon."

He said chemical and pesticide use on vegetables had led to serious health problems including cancer.

Department of Agriculture director-general Jirakorn Kosaisevi insisted yesterday the state's controls on chemicals were on the right track.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1040047

Ministry Proposes New EU Screening for Thai Vegetable

UPDATE : 26 January 2011

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry will cancel suspending the export of five categories of vegetable to the European Union while asking it to conduct a 100 percent inspection of Thai agricultural products to enable exporters of standardized products to carry on with their trade.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut spoke of the European Union, or EU's, temporary ban on the import of Thai vegetable in five categories covering varieties of basil, chili, bitter gourd, eggplant and parsley, due to a discovery of pests.


Theera said the Thai government has submitted a letter to the EU to clarify the matter and proposed it conduct a 100 percent inspection of Thai agricultural products instead of random inspection to ensure that Thai products are standardized and he expected a response from the EU in a couple of days.

In the meantime, Deputy Agriculture Minister Supachai Posu said he has instructed the Agriculture Department to postpone suspension of five categories of vegetable exports to the EU, which was earlier scheduled on February 1, until the ministry receives the EU's official confirmation about its new proposal.

He added that the 100 percent inspection will help exporters with no record of breaching food safety regulations to carry on with their business as usual.

Promising 100% inspection is one thing, but the ministers suggestion requires the EU to trust the inspections.

Given that the thai government has been caught out lying spectacularly about currency reserves, the exposure of which triggered the asian financial criss of the 90's. And then the lie about all those birds dying of 'bird cholera' when in the rest of SEA it was H1N5 flu.

One has to wonder if the EU might feel third time lucky and give the minster a break

Originally Posted by Latindancer

Oh, great ! I'm vegetarian, my soon-to-be wife is becoming vegetarian, and we'll be having a baby soon after marriage.
So far, there have been listed : Chinese bitter cucumber, beans, lettuce, and spring onion as being high in pesticide.

Does anyone know which vegetables I should avoid like the plague ? Which vegetables are carbofuran, dicrotophos, methomyl and EPN used on ??

Everything in Thailand is covered in pesticides. The air is full of pesticides, and so is the water. Everything you eat, breathe and drink in Thailand is full of pesticides. I lived in Thai village for years and saw how they sprayed everything, including their yards to defoliate them instead of mow the grass. A smoke detector of mine went off one day and, opening the curtains, there was a guy with the proverbial 5 gallon motorized backpack of poison spraying. Same thing happened 6 months later. Neither smoke detector would ever work after that. Ever wonder why you hear of so many Thais dying of liver, lung, kidney, stomach and brain cancer? Thailand is a toxic nightmare. And not just from pesticides. Heavy and light industry, neighbors burning plastic garbage bags, coal fired power plants, polluting engines, the list goes on and on and on. Thailand isn't a 'cheap' place to live. It is expensive if you factor in the costs to your health.