Thailand has advised it will be implementing stringent pesticide residue monitoring on fresh fruit and vegetables at the port of entry.

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a Guideline for monitoring imported fruits and vegetables that may contain chemical residues to be implemented by FDA stations at the ports of entry. All fresh fruit and vegetables exported to Thailand are required to comply with the new guidelines.

Summary of key points for vegetable grower-exporters:

• The Thai FDA initially aimed to start implementing the guidelines from 15 June 2020, however has since advised that the implementation of the residue testing will now be postponed to 1 August 2020.
• Testing is for these 134 substances.
• The Thai FDA has classified fruit and vegetables into three groups;
  • Very high risk – means recorded instances of fresh fruits and vegetables where chemical residues were detected over the last three years.
  • High risk – fresh fruits and vegetables that have a record of non-compliance higher than 20 per cent in 2018-2019 from FDA’s testing record. Top five items include:
    • Vegetables: pea, celery, coriander, Chinese kale and Chinese spinach
    • Fruits: cherry, citrus, strawberry, table grapes and dragon fruit
  • Low risk – fresh fruits and vegetables that have a record of non-compliance lower than 20 per cent in 2018-2019 from FDA’s testing record, and do not appear in the very high risk nor high risk lists.

• Testing requirements for each group is based on the risk category assigned by the Thai FDA.
• All vegetable grower-exporters are strongly encouraged to contact your Thai importer to understand how these changes may impact your trade.
• The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) is currently seeking more information and clarification from the Thai FDA and will update industry as further information becomes available.

For more information on how these changes would impact you, please read the IAN Notice released by DAWE.

If you would like to discuss these changes further, please contact Michael Coote on 03 9882 0277 or at michael.coote@ausveg.com.au.