Concerns have been raised over the irreparable damage that genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, legalised by the cabinet-approved Biosafety Bill, could bring to local agriculture.
The bill -- nicknamed the GMO bill -- proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday amid protests from civic groups and governmental offices.
The bill will next come under scrutiny by the National Legislative Assemble (NLA). The bill proposes to legalise all GMO plants and animals, except those used for medicinal experiments on humans and certain animals.
The committee for the biosafety bill, chaired by the the ministry's permanent secretary, will be set up to regulate GMOs. Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, insisted there was no objection from the cabinet when the bill was approved on Tuesday.
If endorsed by the NLA, it will come into effect a year after being declared in the Royal Gazette, he said. Witoon Lianchamroon, director of Biodiversity Action Thailand, AKA BioThai, said the bill permits the agricultural use of GMO plants and animals that are proven to be safe for human health and the environment.
But if the GMOs contaminate the environment, the owners don't have to take any responsibility for damages, he said.
"Small farmers whose produce will be affected by GMOs unintentionally will have to handle the burden themselves, even though their rights have been violated by the GMO producers," said Mr Witoon.
Organic farming products contaminated by GMOs won't be able to sell in the market or be exported, especially if a ban on GMOs becomes a global trend, he said.
In addition, local farmers won't have rights to the new breeds of produce or animals contaminated by GMOs, if big agricultural companies hold the patents, he added.
According to a cabinet source, government officers raised concerns over the negative impacts of the bill during the hearing process.
A draft of the bill had earlier been sent to various agencies for suggestions between Sept 26 and Oct 6.
The Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board (NESDB) said the bill would have consequences for various sectors, especially organic agriculture, the source said.
The NESDB said encouraging GMOs will limit Thailand's capacity to develop agricultural products and narrow down its potential market share.
It proposed GMO production, imports and exports be permitted on a case-by-case basis.
The NESDB also said operators should be responsible for any damages that occur if local breeds are contaminated by GMOs, to protect local agriculture.
If GMO development is necessary, it should only be for experimenting with non-food ornamental products, such as orchids, in government labs, said the NESDB.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said the eco-system was already contaminated by GMOs after Thailand legalised some imported GMOs for experiments.
The legalisation of GMOs will undermine Thailand's policy to boost organic and eco-friendly food and agricultural products, said the MoC.
It urged regulations for the GMO production process, including transport, storage, packaging, labelling and documentation.