Bangkok: The Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Commercial Bank of Thailand (CBT) have announced a cooperative initiative aimed at promoting a traceability mechanism for the purchase of agricultural products that have not undergone burning.
According to Thai News Agency, the initiative is part of a broader effort led by the Director-General of the Pollution Control Department, in collaboration with the Department of International Trade, to establish trade measures and a traceability system for non-burned agricultural products. This move is intended to mitigate the issue of transboundary haze and strengthen regional cooperation, particularly within the Mekong area.
Mr. Surin Worakitthamrong, the Director-General of the Pollution Control Department, emphasized the importance of intertwining environmental considerations with trade measures. The department's collaboration with the Department of International Trade and the Ministry of Commerce aims to foster a system that encourages the purchase of agricultural products that have not been subjected to burning. This initiative seeks to motivate farmers to adopt alternative production methods, thereby reducing the practice of burning in agricultural zones.
The Department of International Trade has taken steps to implement the Ministry of Commerce's directive that mandates certification for animal feed corn as a regulated import commodity starting in 2025. This measure is seen as essential for screening non-burned agricultural products and lessening the impact of transboundary haze caused by production processes.
Additionally, Thailand is actively promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP Zero Burning) to support sustainable agricultural practices. This effort is complemented by a traceability system that accurately identifies the origins of agricultural produce.
In discussions with Mr. Pakwan Pissame, Director-General of the Department of Environment of Laos, Mr. Surin proposed enhancing cooperation to tackle transboundary haze issues. He suggested the use of a "WhatsApp Hotline CLEAR Sky" communication channel among the director-generals of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar to improve coordination.
Thailand, through the Pollution Control Department, has also offered to function as the secretariat for the Thai-Lao-Myanmar Joint Working Group. This role includes providing expertise, technology, and capacity-building support for collaborative efforts in the Mekong region.
Plans are underway to establish a centralized platform for monitoring haze conditions, facilitating better data exchange among Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Thailand has sought Laos's cooperation in sharing air quality monitoring data to enhance regional alert systems.
Mr. Surin concluded that this collaboration aims to systematically address transboundary haze issues, integrating environmental, trade, and international cooperation dimensions.