Thailand develops lab to test chemical residues in fruit

BANGKOK, Sept 17 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has developed a toxicological laboratory with the capability to examine around 500 chemical substances, in accordance with the European Union (EU) requirements, noting that Thai entrepreneurs would no longer need to worry that their exports would be delayed. Public Health Minister Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said fruit and vegetable are exposed to chemical contamination in the planting process. If nothing could be done to lower the risks, all of the fruits, vegetables, and herbs exported from Thailand to the EU would be delayed and could cost fruit exporters billions of baht losses. Testing for one species of the fruit or vegetable usually takes no longer than 5 days, however, the produce owners must send their products for the lab test in Singapore, Australia. The overseas test cost them as high as 100,000 baht for each kind of fruit. Director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) Dr. Apichai Mongkol, said his department has now successfully developed a toxicological laboratory, the first of its kind in Thailand that can test at least 500 chemicals in 10 groups of fruit in line with the EU's requirement. Earlier, only 200 chemical substances in four groups of fruit can be tested here. The newly developed toxicological Lab is the first of its kind in Thailand and the country has also targeted to become the hub in ASEAN for examination of chemical residues in agricultural produce. (TNA)