Commerce Ministry Implements Stricter Cassava Quality Controls Amid Surging Trade

BANGKOK: The Department of Foreign Trade has intensified its oversight of cassava quality from neighboring countries, deploying testing kits and halting registrations of certain importers to prevent price manipulation. The measures are aimed at maintaining standards as the 2024/25 production season commences, particularly at the Chong Chom checkpoint where violations have been detected. According to Thai News Agency, Mrs. Arada Fuangthong, the Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, announced that the recently initiated trade of cassava chips at border areas has prompted a rigorous inspection regime. The department is actively distributing cassava quality testing kits to checkpoints and major export ports to ensure compliance with the Ministry of Commerce's standards. This move comes after the Chong Chom Customs Checkpoint in Surin Province reported imports containing sand levels above the legal limit. The suspension of registrations for importers found in breach of quality standards is part of a broader strategy to maintain fair market conditions. The practice of importing substandard cassava chips could lead to reduced purchase prices, potentially impacting the domestic market. Surin Province has been designated a high-surveillance red zone due to the prevalence of quality violations, prompting enhanced inspection efforts. The department's deployment of inspection kits will extend to major export ports in provinces such as Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chonburi, and Chachoengsao. These efforts are intended to assure international buyers of the quality of Thai cassava chips, thereby stabilizing the industry for consumers, farmers, and entrepreneurs alike. The Director-General emphasized that these measures aim to ensure market satisfaction, profitability, and stability throughout the cassava production season.