Bangkok: The government has initiated a new strategy deploying "Cyber Agricultural Inspectors" to crack down on illegal online agricultural products, with a focus on upgrading Thai agricultural standards and safeguarding consumer safety.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed measures intended to protect farmers and consumers from the risks associated with the illegal online sale of substandard agricultural inputs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has intensified efforts to monitor, inspect, and suppress the sale of counterfeit fertilizers, unregistered hazardous materials, and illegally controlled seeds on online platforms.
The Department of Agriculture is actively collaborating with major e-commerce platforms, including Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok, to continuously monitor and suppress the distribution of illegal products. To date, authorities have shut down 94 online stores involved in such activities, with ongoing investigations aimed at identifying and prosecuting manufacturers, importers, and related networks.
Lieutenant Colonel Thongsalooykorn emphasized that the government's focus extends beyond simply cracking down on offenders. It is also committed to ensuring that farmers have access to quality, standardized, and safe production inputs. This initiative aims to mitigate the risks of farmers falling victim to counterfeit or substandard products, which could harm their crops and income.
Substandard agricultural inputs can significantly impact yields, increase production costs, and reduce the competitiveness of the Thai agricultural sector. Additionally, the use of unregistered hazardous substances poses threats to food safety, the environment, and public health. To combat these issues, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is promoting ethical business practices through the Q-Shop project. This initiative recognizes certified agricultural input retailers approved by the Department of Agriculture, ensuring product quality and farmer safety.
The government is also pushing forward the development of the Department of Agriculture into a 'Smart Regulator.' This transformation involves modernizing operations, streamlining processes, and leveraging digital technologies to enhance law enforcement efficiency, thereby creating a transparent and fair agricultural input market system.
Captain Pattarasmi reiterated that the government's principal objective is to establish a high-quality and safe agricultural ecosystem. This vision spans from producers and distributors to online platforms and end-users, aiming to elevate the standards of Thai agricultural products, bolster consumer confidence, and enhance the global competitiveness of the Thai agricultural sector.