Bangkok: The FDA has established a strategic partnership with China’s SAMR, opening the door for Thai food trade to the Chinese market with confidence. The FDA has developed a standardized, transparent, and traceable approach to import and export food inspections, enhancing the potential of the Thai food export industry to China, valued at over 100 billion baht per year.
According to Thai News Agency, Pharmacist Lertchai Lertwutthi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealed that the FDA is moving forward with strategic cooperation with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of the People’s Republic of China, the central agency responsible for overseeing the quality and safety of products and food, as well as enforcing China’s food, cosmetics, and industrial product safety laws. The agency plays a key role in licensing and inspecting imported products before they are placed on the Chinese market.
The meeting between the FDA and SAMR aimed to link the food regulatory systems of both countries to develop guidelines for inspecting imported and exported food to higher standards, transparency, and traceability, particularly for pre-packaged food, a key Thai export product.
Currently, Thailand’s packaged food industry is valued at over 580 billion baht, growing at an average of 6% per year. The Chinese market is the primary destination for Thai food and beverage products, valued at over 100 billion baht per year. Meanwhile, the ready-to-eat food segment is expected to grow at an average of 9.3% per year between 2024 and 2032.
By driving collaboration with SAMR, Thailand’s food safety standards will be more widely recognized in the Chinese market, enabling faster, more transparent product licensing and inspection processes and reducing trade barriers. This will enable Thai businesses to expand their markets, while Thai citizens will benefit from a more efficient and standardized consumer protection system.
The FDA Deputy Secretary-General concluded by saying that linking cooperation with SAMR is another important step for the FDA to expand cooperation with foreign agencies to enhance food supervision in line with international standards, which will increase the competitiveness of the food industry and promote food safety for the people of the country at the same time.