BANGKOK, 31 January 2013 The Department of Foreign Trade has stressed the importance of Thai white rice standards, which are hoped to help boost the global market’s confidence in the quality of Thai rice and help rice farmers sell their produce at higher prices.
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Thikhamporn Nartworathat said the standards were applicable to eight categories of exported rice, including grade 1-3 100% white rice as well as 5%, 10%, 15% and 25% white rice. He pointed out that the standardization of white rice had been around for a long time to cut the rice export process and expenses of Thai rice exporters. Most importantly, the rice standards could increase the confidence of international consumers in Thai white rice, the deputy director-general said.
If Thai rice producers fail to meet the standards, they will be subject to no punishment but they will have to improve their produce otherwise they will not be allowed to export rice.
Thailand is now the world’s number 3 rice exporter, following India and Vietnam. Compared to the same period of last year, Thailand is exporting 35% more, making it likely that the country might come back as the number 1 rice exporter.
