Pathum thani: "Suriya" is intensifying efforts to enhance the safety measures for imported fruits and vegetables at Talad Thai market in Pathum Thani province. Minister Sarawut has been tasked with overseeing the import, storage, and inspection processes of agricultural products to ensure that they meet safety standards. This initiative involves developing a comprehensive inspection system throughout the supply chain and integrating the electronic phytosanitary certificate (e-Phyto) system to improve inspection efficiency and reduce paperwork.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sarawut Nueangchamnong, Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, recently inspected the processes involved in the importation and storage of agricultural products at Navathanya World Fruit Co., Ltd. and Talad Thai. He was joined by high-ranking officials including Mr. Kris Uttamawethin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Mr. Rapeephat Chantarasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Sarawut emphasized Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit's commitment to raising safety standards for imported agricultural products to prevent the introduction of plant diseases and pests that could harm Thailand's agriculture sector. Ensuring compliance with sanitary standards is crucial for protecting consumer health and boosting confidence in Thailand's food safety systems.
To advance this policy, Mr. Suriya has instructed Mr. Sarawut to promote regulatory upgrades and enhance the inspection system for imported agricultural products, particularly focusing on digital technology use in data management and traceability. This is vital to manage the increasing volume of international agricultural trade efficiently.
Navathanya World Fruit Co., Ltd. has been highlighted as a model for legal and standard-compliant import practices. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives supports businesses with robust traceability systems, emphasizing the importance of phytosanitary standards and supply chain food safety.
The inspection at Talad Thai market emphasized the importance of maintaining standards and safety for imported agricultural products. The ministry is reinforcing measures to prevent smuggling and fraudulent activities to protect Thai farmers, stabilize markets, and uphold agricultural product standards. Non-compliant imports will face suspension and legal actions.
Additionally, the Ministry is leveraging import data to support market-driven and innovation-enhanced policies that boost income. The data helps identify domestic market demands, which can guide local production efforts and reduce dependency on imports, fostering long-term stability for Thailand's agricultural sector.
Mr. Sarawut has also ordered the Department of Agriculture to expedite the integration of e-Phyto systems between plant quarantine agencies, the Department of Agriculture, and the Customs Department via the National Single Window (NSW) system. This aims to enhance the efficiency of inspection processes, reduce paperwork, and improve data accuracy for better monitoring of plant diseases and pests.
The e-Phyto system is expected to modernize the regulation of imported agricultural products, ensuring transparency and verifiability. It will play a crucial role in preventing risks from foreign plant diseases and pests, increasing consumer confidence in food safety, and strengthening Thailand's biosecurity in the long term.
In 2025, Thailand imported over 1.71 million tons of fruits and vegetables, valued at 52,666 million baht. As of May 2026, imports are projected at 586,087 tons, valued at 15,696 million baht. This trend highlights the need to continuously upgrade inspection standards to balance trade facilitation, farmer protection, and consumer safety.