Thailand tightens cassava imports from Cambodia to protect local farmers
Thailand ramps up control over cassava imports from Cambodia to prevent low-quality products affecting local farmers' prices, ensuring market stability.
Minister of Commerce Pichai Naripthaphan has announced that the Ministry of Commerce has ordered the Department of Foreign Trade to tighten its inspection of cassava imports at the Thai-Cambodian border. This move aims to prevent the influx of low-quality cassava that could undermine the prices currently being received by Thai farmers.
The Ministry has set specific guidelines to regulate cassava imports, designating five provinces and six entry points where cassava from Cambodia is permitted. These points include:
- Permanent border crossing at Ban Pakkad, Chanthaburi Province
- Permanent border crossing at Ban Khao Din and the temporary crossing at Ban Ta Phraya, Sa Kaeo Province
- Klong Yai Customs House, Trat Province
- Chong Chom Customs House, Surin Province
- Chong Sa-Ngam Customs House, Si Sa Ket Province
Importers must register in advance, provide import details, and ensure that their stocks are stored separately from domestically purchased cassava. Continuous reporting to relevant authorities is also required.
The Department of Foreign Trade will also deploy additional staff to the six border checkpoints to randomly inspect the quality of imported cassava. Any substandard shipments will result in the suspension of the importer's registration until the quality meets required standards.
Furthermore, the Department of Internal Trade has implemented measures to control the movement of fresh and cassava chips. Transport of these goods, in quantities of 10,000 kilograms or more, into or out of the controlled areas in 60 districts across 16 provinces, is prohibited without prior permission. Violators may face imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
"Although we are approaching the end of cassava production season in both Thailand and Cambodia, the Ministry of Commerce remains committed to strictly regulating imports to protect the interests of Thai farmers. We also aim to raise the standards of Thai cassava to ensure sustainable competitiveness in the global market," Pichai stated.
