Published on December 31, 2005
Canada imposes new labelling rules.
Thai food exports destined for Canada need to include on the packaging the quantity of trans fatty acid the latest no-no in the minds of North American dieters.
The Foreign Trade Department yesterday advised Thai food exporters to label the quantity on all of their products to comply with the Canadian government regulations requiring that large companies started complying on December 12. Smaller outfits have until December 12, 2007 to respond. Thailand exported US$7.9 million (Bt259 million) worth of processed food to Canada last year, a sum expected to grow a mere 0.5 per cent in 2005. – The Nation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- RICE BUYING: Trader loses ticket The Commerce Ministry yesterday suspended the licence of rice trader Montol in Suphan Buri for allegedly cheating when weighing products it bought from farmers. Growers had complained that Montol was short-changing them by using a rigged measuring system. The Internal Trade Department therefore sent inspectors to test its weights and measures, which they found to be skewed. The company’s licence has been suspended for three months. – The Nation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- AUTO EXPORTS: New used-car laws In a bid to protect the country’s automotive industry, South Africa has implemented new controls on used-car imports. The Import and Export Control Office of South Africa adjusted its rules particularly for commercial vehicles. For the first 11 months of the year, Thailand exported Bt7.4 billion worth of used cars to South Africa, the main destination for Thai used-car exports. – The Nation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHINA’S GRAIN WOES: Shortage narrows Grain shortages in China, particularly rice, will benefit Thai rice exports next year, traders expect. Xinhuanet website reported on Thursday that China’s grain output in 2005 had grown to 480 million tonnes and that demand in 2006 would exceed output by 15 million tonnes, according to Du Qinglin, China’s Agriculture Minister. The minister pointed out that China still faced an imbalance in grain supply and demand. China’s grain production increased by 50 million tonnes between 2003 and 2005, leading to a record year in production. In 2005, China’s output of rice, wheat and corn will reach 182 million tonnes, 97.5 million tonnes and 134.5 million tonnes respectively, according to the ministry. But rice production will be short 13 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes, and soybeans by 20 million tonnes in 2006, said Du, adding that only corn output will exceed demand. – The Nation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CONTRACT DISPUTE: BNT axes JV effort BNT Radio Co Ltd has dissolved its joint venture with Traffic Corner Radio Co Ltd due to unresolved conditions in the memorandum of understanding signed on September 15. Earlier, the board of BNT Radio, a subsidiary of BNT Entertainment, endorsed the joint-venture agreement which called for BNT Entertainment holding 50.5 per cent, Traffic Corner Radio holding 47 per cent and existing shareholders owning the rest. – The Nation.
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