Asean organic product standard considered

Asean organic product standard considered

Women in tambon Pho Klang in Nakhon Ratchasima show off their organic strawberry plants, for which they have received numerous orders. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Women in tambon Pho Klang in Nakhon Ratchasima show off their organic strawberry plants, for which they have received numerous orders. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

The commerce minister has invited Southeast Asian organic product suppliers to discuss a regionwide organic product standard to help increase Asean farm exports.

Apiradi Tantraporn extended the invitation on Friday at the Organic & Natural Expo 2017 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

The foreign operators would discuss the Asean standard with about 200 Thai operators participating in the exposition, she said.

It would be the first effort by the 10 Asean member states to discuss attempts to develop a common organic product standard, she said. She hopes it will lead to greater bargaining power in importing markets and growth in the exports of Southeast Asian farm products to the rest of the world.

Exports of Thai organic products are worth an estimated 2.7 billion baht a year, but the minister said the growth potential was clear given that the global organic market is worth about 3 trillion baht.

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