Commerce Minister: Thai exported rice meets standard

BANGKOK, 21 September 2009 (NNT) – Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai assured foreign importers that Thai exported rice was up to standard as it had been strictly examined.

Thailand has been criticized for not exporting rice that meets designated standards as it was claimed to be mixed with cheap grain by unscrupulous traders to boost their stocks.

Mrs. Porntiva insisted the rice, especially jasmine rice, prior to the export was in compliance with the standardization agreement, made with foreign importers. But she admitted the rice after the export would be difficult in terms of quality control as it was out of the ministry’s responsibility.

Mrs. Porntiva said her ministry had asked for cooperation from foreign counterparts to thoroughly look after the matter as it was beyond the Thai authority to do so.

As for the controversy over the US research in developing a new strain of early maturing jasmine rice, Mrs. Porntiva viewed that jasmine rice grown in US would not produce the same quality grains, comparing to the ones in Thailand due to various factors.