BANGKOK, Aug 31 – The Commerce Ministry reports that the latest tests on 220 rice samples from various provinces found no hazardous residues or chemical toxins.
Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said lab tests, conducted on packaged rice samples, found no phosphine, fungus or alpha toxin.
The volume of inorganic bromide residues, found in 130 samples, did not exceed the safety standard level of 50 milligrammes/kg, he said.
The rice samples were collected from Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakarn and Chachoengsao provinces from July 24.
Mr Yanyong said quality tests would continue in other provinces to ensure safety for consumers and test results would be sent to foreign importers to gain their trust and confidence in Thai rice.
Regarding the return of 3.2 tonnes of Thai rice from the US, the deputy minister said the lot was exported by Nakhon Luang Rice Trading to Best Food Service Incorporation in the US on October 25 last year and it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The US importer complained about the odor of the rice.
The Thai Food and Drug Administration immediately checked the lot on its return and confirmed that the rice was free from chemical residues, he said.
The Thai seller and US buyer mutually agreed on the return of the rice and no penalty was levied against the Thai exporter, he said.
