The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has voiced concerns over the safety of fruit and vegetable imports from neighboring countries and China, following the discovery of pesticide contamination in some agricultural products. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI, emphasized the need for more rigorous examination of these imports to safeguard consumer health.
He suggested increasing the number of officials tasked with inspecting imported fruits and vegetables as a measure to boost consumer confidence. Recent statistics from the FTI show an 8.4% increase in the value of imported fruit and vegetables in January 2024, year-on-year, including products such as oranges, tomatoes, kale, basil, chillies, and cauliflower.
The FTI has also expressed concern over the impact of these imports on Thailand's agricultural sector, which is crucial for the country's GDP. Additionally, the federation highlighted challenges beyond the agricultural realm, pointing out the influx of cheap Chinese products threatening the competitiveness of local small and medium-sized enterprises across various sectors.
Source: bangkokpost.com
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