Thai cricket farms to be certified for export to EU

BANGKOK, Sept 4 (TNA) – Thai authorities gear up to accredit cricket farms, which adopt Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) to serve increasing demand for cricket products in the European market. The Livestock Development Department will inspect and certify cricket farms and processing factories to ensure they meet the requirement foe exporting to EU countries. There are demands for cricket powder, nutritious source of protein in Germany, Finland, Switzerland and Denmark as the European Union’s novel food legislation will be applicable in 2021 to add insects as human food, said the Director-General of Livestock Development Department, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon. He said Germany is the first country, having imported cricket powder from Thailand for two year. Swarm Protein, German company sent representatives to the department, asking about accreditation of cricket farms in Thailand. The imports of cricket products have to comply with the guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority. The department has worked with the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards to accredit cricket farms and processing factories, which are required to apply the food safety standard. Cricket feed and farming practice will be controlled to ensure Thai cricket products free from microbial and residue contamination. Cricket powder for export costs about 1,000 baht per kilogramme. Importers use it as ingredients in many kinds of food such as pasta, bakery products and beverage. Cricket farms are scattered in many Thai provinces such as Chaing Mai, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Kalasin, Ratchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. (TNA)