ThaiGAP - Good Agricultural Practice

GTZ joining with National Metrology Institute of Germany to develop globally recognized Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) “ThaiGAP”

In the past, exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables have faced numerous problems to access higher value markets that standard required. The main entrance criterion to these markets is food safety and quality; and the best path towards achieving and ensuring this is to implement and manage transparent food safety and quality standards that are internationally recognized. The GLOBALGAP standard is quickly becoming the main standard in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa. In Thailand a few farms have achieved this standard, but for Thailand to improve Good Agriculture Practice for domestic market as well as to remain competitive in the fresh food export market more and more producers will need to be certified.

GTZ and PTB (National Metrology Institute of Germany) recently invited Chairman of GLOBALGAP Mr. Nigel Garbutt to provide the recommendation on ThaiGAP Governance Plan and strategic next steps to benchmark ThaiGAP with GLOBALGAP to the executives from the related Thai organizations including ThaiGAP, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, Department of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Thai Retailer Association represented by TescoLotus, Tops Supermarkets and fruits and vegetable exporters. His recommendations were such as the set-up of the ThaiGAP governance and legal structure and national technical working group, critical success factors for ThaiGAP, step for benchmarking process, and development of national interpretation guideline of the standard for farmers and exporters.

Through the combined efforts of both public and private sectors in supporting and developing ThaiGAP standard, the project aims to be extended to livestock and fisheries sectors which will impact on a large number of Thai farmers to improve their ability to comply to specific food safety requirements and participate in export opportunities.