Authorities probe contents of Dutch-banned herbal powder

BANGKOK, Sept 13 (TNA) -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will meet the manufacturer of a well-known herbal powder product to inquire about its ingredients after the Netherlands banned its import for reportedly containing endangered agar wood. Gen Surasak Kanjanarak, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said he had not put any blame on any party but would verify the reported content. If the product really included a prohibited content, it would have to change, the minister said. Agar wood is an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). It can be traded but its exploitation must be controlled for the sake of conservation. (TNA)