Update to protocol set to streamline export of fruit from Thailand to China
Thailand and China will open an additional five fruit trade checkpoints under the Third Country Fruit Transport Protocol from 1 September, according to reporting from The Nation.
Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said the two countries had agreed to update the protocol which manages the quarantine and inspection of fruit transported through third countries while in transit from Thailand to China.
Artthakorn revealed that under the new agreement Thailand would add three new checkpoints in Thung Chang in Nan province, Ban Huak in Phayao province, and Phu Du in Uttaradit province and China would add two checkpoints in Mengkang and Taluo in Yunnan province. The additional checkpoints bring the total to nine in Thailand and twelve in China.
“This expansion of checkpoints is a major step forward, creating new transport routes that will provide farmers and operators with more opportunities to reduce transport costs, reduce congestion during peak fruit seasons, and speed up the distribution of Thai fruit to various provinces in China,” Artthakorn said. “This will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Thai fruit in the Chinese market.”
