2021-34: Horticulture – Food safety requirements for all fruit and vegetables to Thailand

23 June 2021

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that the Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have expanded food safety requirements to all fruit and vegetables. The requirements will no longer be limited to those listed in IAN 2019-34.

Key points

• New Thailand FDA requirements in Notification No. 420 Food Production Process, Processing Equipment / Utensils and Storage Practices.
• From 7 October 2021, all Thai importers registered with the Thailand MoPH FDA, must provide a copy of the accredited food safety scheme certification for packhouses that handle fruit and vegetables.
• New exporters have been subject to the notification since 11 April 2021.
• Notification No. 420 recognises compliance to the previous Notification No. 386 Requirements for Production Processes, production Equipment, Storage and Labelling of some fruit and vegetables as previously detailed in IAN 2019-34.
• There are no changes to exports of fruit and vegetables listed in IAN 2019-34.
• All other fruit and vegetable exports to Thailand must be covered by a certificate issued by a JAS-ANZ accredited certification body showing compliance with a recognised food safety scheme.
• The following food safety schemes have been recognised by Thailand MoPH FDA. These accredited schemes demonstrate that industry control systems comply with the requirements.
  • BRC Global Standards for Food Safety
  • Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Code of Practice
  • SQF Food Safety Code for Primary Production
  • GLOBALG.A.P.
• Thai importers may request Australian exporters to provide a copy of certification to these accredited food safety schemes for the relevant packhouses.
• Australian exporters are advised to communicate with their Thai importers and suppliers to ensure the Thailand MoPH requirements are met.
• These changes do not impact the phytosanitary requirements for fruit and vegetables to Thailand.

Background

In 2017, the Thailand MoPH Food and Drug Administration notified all trading partners of Requirements for Production Processes, production Equipment, Storage and Labelling of some fruit and vegetables No. 386 BE 2560 (2017).

In 2018, we provided a submission to the Thailand MoPH describing Australia’s food control system demonstrating the following industry food safety accredited schemes comply with Thailand’s ‘good practices’ requirements for packhouses:

• BRC Global Standards for Food Safety
• Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Code of Practice – Edition 4
• SQF Food Safety Code for Primary Production – Edition 8
• GLOBALG.A.P.

The submission was accepted, and the requirement came into effect 25 August 2019 as described in IAN 2018-53.

Notification No. 420 Food Production Process, Processing Equipment / Utensils and Storage Practices now requires a food safety program for all fruit and vegetables and recognises Australia’s horticulture food safety schemes.

We do not issue certification to the schemes listed above. Contact the food safety scheme providers for information on how to obtain certification to these accredited schemes.

Exporter responsibilities

Australian exporters must communicate with their Thai importers and suppliers to ensure that all Thailand food safety and phytosanitary requirements are met

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Horticulture Exports Program.

David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch