Commerce Ministry boosts Thai food exporters with Covid Prevention Best Practice Certificate
The Commerce Ministry has launched the “Thailand Deliver with Safety” campaign to boost confidence in Thai food products during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting safe manufacturing practices.
In 2020, four government ministries – Commerce, Public Health, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Interior – jointly signed an MOU on Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice in production of food for export, aiming to grant Certification of Compliance with Covid-safe practices to Thai businesses whose manufacturing practices meet international standards.
Somdet Susomboon, director-general of the ministry’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), revealed, “During the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers take extra caution when purchasing food products, prioritising the ingredient sources as well as reliable manufacturing practices.
The DITP has kicked off the “Thailand Deliver with Safety” campaign to boost confidence and reassure global trading partners and buyers that Thailand is a major source and leading global exporter of safe food products, including raw materials, agricultural products, vegetables and fruits, ready to eat food, frozen food and halal food, he added.
“The campaign ensures that Thai food manufacturers utilise advanced technology and global standards through manufacturing and packing to shipping.”
The Department of Fisheries has so far issued 72 certificates for Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice to 72 factories producing chilled, frozen or canned seafood. The factories are in Samut Sakhon (32), Songkhla (8), Chachoengsao (5), Rayong (5), Samut Prakan (5), Phetchaburi (4), Ranong (3), Chumphon (2) Nakhon Pathom (2), Bangkok (1), Ayutthaya (1), Pathum Thani (1), Chonburi (1) Satun (1), Kanchanaburi (1), Phang Nga (1), Phuket (1) and Trang (1).
Despite overall economic contraction in 2020, exports of Thai agricultural and food products actually grew in the second half of the year, generating US$13.640.80 billion for 1.4 per cent year-on-year growth.
The top five Thai food exports were:
1. Fresh, chilled, frozen and dried vegetables and fruits
2. Fresh, chilled, canned and processed seafood (excluding fresh, chilled, frozen and processed shrimp)
3. Rice
4. Fresh, chilled, frozen and processed chicken
5. Cassava products.
More Thai food manufacturers are set to obtain the Certificate of Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice to meet growing demand and retain the trust of the global market.