The Thai Commerce Ministry has ordered the tightening of controls on the import of cassava roots and chips from Cambodia through border checkpoints, to protect local produce and to stabilise prices.
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said today that he has instructed the Foreign Trade Department to impose the tighter controls on overland imports of the cassava produce, to prevent the dumping of low quality tapioca into Thai market, which would affect Thai tapioca growers.
Cambodian cassava produce is normally trucked across the border through checkpoints at Ban Pakkard in Chanthaburi, Ban Khao Din in Ta Phraya district of Sa Kaeo province, Khlong Yai in Trat province, Chong Chom in Surin province and Chong Sa-ngam in Si Sa Ket province.
Under the new restrictions, importers must register with the Foreign Trade Department, notify officials concerned in advance of the amount to be imported and where they it to be stored, so random checks can be carried out by officials.
Moreover, Pichai said that transport of cassava roots and chips of more than 10 tonnes, out of 60 districts in 16 provinces designated as cassava control areas, are possible only with permission from the authorities concerned. Violators can face jail terms of up to five years and/or fines of 500,000 if convicted, he added.
