Exporters warned over strict standards
Amid poor export prospects, Thai exporters are being warned of looming strict trade standards on food safety, sanitation and the environment, notably from the US, the EU and Japan.
Pimchanok Vonkhorporn, deputy director–general of Trade Policy and Strategy Office under the Commerce Ministry, said stricter measures are likely to come, particularly from developed countries where consumers are highly aware of food safety, sanitation, social and environmental issues.
"Based on our observations, developed countries have intensified the use of non-tariff measures, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and other environment measures," she said.
"They have tried to make sure that their consumers take in as little chemical residue as possible and no insects, while regularly updating their lists of banned chemical residues," added Ms Pimchanok.
She said the EU has also added measures on animal welfare, noting that issues related to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) practices need to be addressed more quickly so as to prevent any future trade obstacles.