Thailand plans to ban corn imports from neighbours linked to pollution

This action aims to reduce the annual haze crisis, which the government mainly attributes to agricultural practices in neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.

Chai Wacharonke, a government spokesperson, said the cabinet has directed the Commerce Ministry to draft a regulation banning corn imports from places where field burning is a common practice, aiming to tackle the smoke-related smog that triggers annual health concerns.

Mr. Chai stated that the resolution underscored the government’s concerns regarding air pollution stemming from the burning of fields in neighbouring countries.

To prove the connection, decision-making officials plan to cross-reference corn cultivation regions with hotspot maps generated from satellite images.

The implementation of any import restrictions will be in accordance with the World Trade Organization’s regulations. Nevertheless, the enactment of these bans must await the approval of the anticipated Clean Air Act, slated for this year, he noted.

The spokesperson outlined that Thailand’s market demands approximately 8.9 million tonnes of corn each year, while its domestic production stands at around 4.9 million tonnes annually.

Presently, Thailand imports roughly 1.6 million tonnes of corn from its neighbours, which includes 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes from Myanmar, 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes from Laos, and about 100,000 tonnes from Cambodia.

An additional amount exceeding 2 million tonnes of corn is sourced from other nations, predominantly Brazil.