THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

CP expert warns on new food requirements

CP expert warns on new food requirements

ENVIRONMENTAL awareness will be a big theme that will govern the global food business in this century, as countries around the globe are imposing stricter requirements, an executive of Charoen Pokphand Group said yesterday.

 
“Developed countries will come up with more measures governing environmental protection, human rights and animal rights. Though this will increase food prices, consumers in those countries are ready to pay,” said Piyanuch Malakul Na Ayuthya, CP Group’s vice president for trade rules.
Given the greater focus on the plantation of fuel crops, which reduces the plantation area for edible crops, as well as the ageing population, food manufacturers will face a big challenge – stricter safety and environmental measures, she told a CP-organised forum on “Thailand’s Food Industry in the 21st Century”.
Besides national- and international-level safety measures, private sectors in some countries are also putting in place their own sets of standards. For example, the members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum require a reduction in production waste and increased recycling. 
“Although this is not compulsory, if the global response is positive, all countries may need to adopt such rules, and this may be a new standard at the international trade level,” she said.
Negotiations on free-trade agreements also involve the requirement of stricter labour and environmental laws. 
The food industry is moving towards a more environment-friendly direction, she said. To thrive in this fiercely competitive industry, local food manufacturers require high adjustability and will need to find partners that can adjust quickly to the changing situation.
Sombat Thiratrakoolchai, an executive of Charoen Pokphand Foods, said that to turn Thailand into a true kitchen of the world, the government would need to heighten food-safety standards and apply them to all suppliers. 
While large-scale producers are subjected to strict regulations, suppliers to street stalls and some restaurants are not yet certified, he said. 
CPF is a leading Thai food producer and exporter. It estimates this year’s sales at Bt350 billion.
Sombat noted that it is CPF's mission to be listed among about 2,000 companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in the next few years. At present, only Siam Cement Group is the only Thai company in the DJSI. 
 
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