25 July 2018
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry of a change to the Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Food and Drug Administration import requirements for some fruit and vegetables.
Summary of changes and key points
- The Thailand MoPH notified of new import requirements for some fruit and vegetables regarding food safety.
- Packhouses must comply with the ‘good practices’ which are outlined in Thailand MoPH Notification No. 386 BE 2560 (2017) Re: The requirements for production processes, production equipment, storage and labelling of some fruits and vegetables. English translation of Notification of Ministry of Public Health No 386 B.E. 2560 (2017).
- The requirements apply only to fruit and vegetables listed in the notification.
- The requirements will come into effect on 25 August 2018 for any new importers registering with the Thailand MoPH for the first time.
- Importers already registered with the Thailand MoPH will have a 12 month transition period up to 25 August 2019.
- The following food safety accredited schemes demonstrate compliance of packing houses to the MoPH ‘good practice’ requirements:
- Thai importers may request Australian exporters to provide a copy of certification to these accredited food safety schemes for the relevant packhouses.
- Australian exporters are advised to communicate with their Thai importers and suppliers to ensure the Thailand MoPH requirements are met.
- There are no changes to phytosanitary requirements.
Background
The Thailand MoPH Food and Drug Administration notified all trading partners of Requirements for Production Processes, production Equipment, Storage and Labelling of some fruit and vegetables No. 386 BE 2560 (2017). Annex 1 of the notification provided a list of fruit and vegetables. Annex 2 of the notification stipulated the ‘good practice’ requirements for packhouses.
The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources provided a submission to the Thailand MoPH describing Australia’s food control system demonstrating the following industry food safety accredited schemes comply with Thailand’s ‘good practices’ requirements for packhouses:
- BRC Global Standards for Food Safety
- Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Code of Practice – Edition 4
- SQF Food Safety Code for Primary Production – Edition 8
- GLOBALG.A.P.
The department has not yet received a response from the Thailand MoPH regarding the submission, so this advice may be subject to change.
The department does not issue certification to the schemes listed above. Contact the food safety scheme providers for information on how to obtain certification to these accredited schemes.
Exporter responsibilities
The changes to Thailand MoPH food safety requirements do not impact phytosanitary requirements for fruit and vegetables to Thailand. However Australian exporters should continue to check the phytosanitary requirements published in the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor).
Australian exporters should also communicate with their Thai importers and suppliers to ensure that all Thailand MoPH food safety and phytosanitary requirements are met.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Mr David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch