Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/18/2007

**GAIN Report Number:** TH7090

TH7090

**Thailand**

**Biotechnology**

**Annual**

**2007**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Gary Meyer, Agricultural Counselor

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Sakchai Preechajarn, Agricultural Specialist

**Report Highlights:**

Thailand is edging closer to removing the 2001 ban on field testing for
agricultural biotech products, and developing a national biosafety
framework that would support the expansion of research and
commercialization of biotechnology in Thailand. Until these milestones
are reached, Thailand risks being at a competitive disadvantage from
neighboring countries that have produced successful outcomes through
their research in biotechnology.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Bangkok \[TH1\]

\[TH\]

# SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

There has been little progress in development of agricultural
biotechnology in Thailand since the latest report in 2006. However, the
Thai Ministry of Agriculture recently announced their intent to remove
the 2001 ban on field testing for agricultural biotech products. On May
2, 2007, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives met with
representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Kasetsart University
to discuss guidelines for re-opening field trials of biotech crops.
These draft guidelines are expected to go to the Cabinet sometime in
September 2007. Until the 2001 ban on field trials is removed, Thailand
risks being at a competitive disadvantage from neighboring countries
that have produced successful outcomes through their research in
biotechnology. Additionally, the National Biotechnology Policy Framework
(2004-2009) remains vague, and the finalization of the National
Biosafety Law has been delayed by repeated public comment periods.

#  

# SECTION II: BIOTECHNOLOGY TRADE AND PRODUCTION

There has been no change in biotechnology trade and production in
Thailand since the latest annual report in 2006. More details about the
historical development of biotechnology are discussed in Appendix A of
TH6077.

# SECTION III: BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY

## The Current Biotechnology Policy

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) is currently finalizing proposed
guidelines for allowing field trials of biotech crops, effectively
removing the 2001 ban. Although a draft is currently unavailable, the
contents reportedly focus on the country\'s need to advance research on
biotech crops, the readiness to use the current biosafety guidelines to
ensure the biosafety, or containment, of researched crops, and
encouraging broader public participation in conducting biotechnology
research and development. The Minister of Agriculture plans to call a
meeting among stakeholder Ministries, including Ministry of Agriculture
and Cooperatives (MOAC), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), to review the
proposed guidelines prior to submitting for Cabinet approval in the end
of September, 2007.

The 2001 ban on biotechnology field trials effectively placed a
moratorium on the dialogue and advancement of biotechnology in Thailand.
Although Thailand does allow for limited biotechnology research, all
research conducted must be contained in laboratories or greenhouses.
Thailand does not allow importation and production of any transgenic
plants for commercial purpose and field trials except for: (1) processed
food; and (2) imports or sales of soybeans and corn for feed use, human
consumption, and industrial use.

Processed foods containing biotech products, must comply with the 2003
Ministry of Public Health's labeling law, which maintains a five percent
tolerance (see GAIN TH6077) for biotech materials/products. Processed
products containing more than five percent biotech materials require
additional labeling.

## Responsible Government Agencies and Institutes and Agricultural Biotechnology

There have been no changes to the government agencies and
institutes/universities involved in biotechnology research and
development and regulating the use of biotechnology at different levels.
Please see GAIN TH6077.

## National Biosafety Framework

Existing Biosafety Guidelines, including Biosafety Guidelines in Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology for Laboratory Work, Field Work, and
Planned Release, are voluntary. Prior to the 2001 ban, several
transgenic crops underwent biosafety testing and assessment in
accordance with these Biosafety Guidelines, including virus resistant
papaya.

In 2003, Thailand began drafting the National Biosafety Framework to
monitor and enforce laws on biosafety management. The legislation seeks
to establish the necessary framework for ensuring the safety of
agricultural biotech products in Thailand, and is being developed in
relationship to their commitments as a party to the Cartagena Protocol.
The Framework covers eight concepts:

1.  Sustainable use and conservation of biotechnology

2.  Risk assessment and management

3.  Risk classification

4.  Risk communication

5.  Cautionary preparedness

6.  Freedom of choice

7.  Domestic capacity building

8.  Encouraging education and public comment

The draft legislation was finalized in February 2006 and is targeting
for implementation sometime in 2008.

## National Biotechnology Policy Framework

On March 18, 2003, the Cabinet agreed to set up the National
Biotechnology Policy Committee (NBPC), chaired by the Prime Minister,
and assigned National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
as the Committee's Secretariat. In December 2003, the NBPS approved the
National Biotechnology Policy Framework (2004-2009), which was proposed
by the NSTDA. However, the framework has lost momentum under the
deadlock on biotechnology research and development.

A summary of the framework was discussed in TH6077. The full report on
National Biotechnology Policy Framework can be downloaded from
http://www.biotec.or.th/document/W-Eng/FrameWork9-11-2548.pdf.

# 

# SECTION IV: MARKETING ISSUES 

Thai producers, retailers, and consumers remain misinformed about the
safety and human health and the environmental benefits of transgenic
plants or foods. Anti-biotechnology groups, such as Green Peace Thailand
and Organization of the Poor, strongly oppose field-testing or
introduction of transgenic crops. Mass media in Thailand, including
newspapers and television, usually provide largely unbalanced reporting
by enlarging the negative views while minimizing the positive views
about modern biotechnology.

A 2003 survey conducted by THAI TOPIC had consumers rank a series of
food characteristics by order of priority. Consumers ranked "free of
chemical residue" first while "non-GM" came in second to last. Although
"non-GM" was lower in priority, 80 percent of consumers surveyed wanted
food products containing biotech ingredients to be labeled accordingly.
Much like producers, Thai consumers are highly uneducated about the
safety and benefits if GM crops. A 2005 survey by the Agricultural
Economics Office showed more than 90 percent of Thai consumers felt they
had no access to information on the costs and benefits of biotech crops,
and consequently were skeptical of any health benefits derived from
biotech food products. Further impeding their ability to obtain
information is the Thai media, whom often portray biotechnology
negatively. Only 10 percent of journalists surveyed reported they had
researched reference material on biotechnology.

The Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA), a Thai biotechnology
advocacy group, presented their Study of Agricultural Biotechnology
Benefits in Thailand, in early 2007. BAA found biotechnology would
primarily benefit small farmers through improving yields and reduced
costs. The reduced chemical use would to improved farm income and
possibly increase rural employment. The full report can be downloaded
from:
http://www.croplifeasia.org/ref_library/biotechnology/Study_AgBiotech_Benefits_in_Thailand_07May2007.pdf.

# 

# SECTION V: CAPACITY BUILDING AND OUTREACH

In recent years, the U.S. Government (USG) has conducted several
capacity building and outreach activities in Thailand in the
biotechnology area. These activities were funded by USDA, State
Department, and other affiliated entities. The activities in 2007
include:

-   Annual biotechnology training program at Michigan State University
    under the Cochran Fellowship Program.

-   USDA sponsored Thai participants to the Asian Pacific Economic
    Cooperation (APEC) dialogue on biotechnology in Australia in January
    2007.

-   USDA Senior Biotechnologist shared the U.S. experience with
    implementing biotechnology and biosafety regulations at an
    international forum organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in
    Bangkok in June 2007.

-   FAS sponsored GM papaya producer from the U.S. shared experiences in
    growing papaya with a group of Thai farmers and academic groups
    throughout Thailand in July 2007.

Country-specific needs or strategies that would be useful in raising the
capacity of Thailand to apply transparent, science-based regulations to
agricultural biotechnology should include:

-   Thailand is in the process of developing a National Biosafety
    Framework. Biosafety issues are new to many relevant government
    officials and scientists. As a result, short course training in the
    areas of risk assessment and of various policy and legal aspects
    should be continued for both local scientists and policy makers;

-   Although public education has been conducted frequently, it has been
    very difficult to change misperceptions about modern biotechnology.
    As a result, new strategies to better educate or understand this
    technology are needed, along with more frequent, sustained efforts
    to do so;

-   The various biotech-related agencies are developing a biosafety
    database for Thailand and could benefit from training or capacity
    building in this task;

# SECTION VI: REFERENCE MATERIAL

Websites:

-   Ministry of Science and Technology: <http://www.most.go.th/>

-   National Center for Genetic Engineering and Agricultural
    Biotechnology (BIOTEC): <http://policy.biotec.or.th/>

-   Thailand Biosafety Information Network:
    <http://biosafety.biotec.or.th/>

-   Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Ministry of Natural
    Resources and Environment: <http://www.onep.go.th/>

-   Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives:
    <http://www.doa.go.th/th/>

-   CropLife Asia:
    [http://www.croplifeasia.org](http://www.croplifeasia.org/)

-   International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotect
    Applications: [http://www.isaaa.org](http://www.isaaa.org/)

-   Biothai (An NGO in Thailand which is against GM crop introduction):
    <http://www.biothai.org/>

-   Greenpeace South East Asia: <http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/>

Publications:

###### Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA), The Study of Agricultural Biotechnology Benefits in

Thailand, March 2007.

National Center for Genetic Engineering and Agricultural Biotechnology
(BIOTEC), National

Biotechnology Policy Framework 2004-2009 (in Thai), National Science and

Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 2004.

Napompeth Banpot. GMOs and GMO Derivatives under Trials in Containment
and/or Small

Scale Field Trials in Thailand: 1991-2003, National Biosafety Committee,
BIOTEC,

2003\.

Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag
Attache's reports on

biotechnology issues in 2007 include: 1) The Benefit of Adopting GM
Crops in

Thailand (TH7015); 2) Public Perceptions of Biotechnology (TH7016), 3)
Move to

Revoke Ban on Biotech Field Trials (TH7056); 4) GMS Countries Meet to
Discuss

Biosafety Regulations (TH7086).

APPENDIX A

A List of Transgenic Plants that were under the Import Permit Requests
(1994-2000)

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Crop**    | **App       | **Year of   | **Trait     | **Status**  |
|             | licant(s)** | Request**   | De          |             |
|             |             |             | scription** |             |
+=============+=============+=============+=============+=============+
| 1\. Squash  | Asgrow Seed | 1994        | \-          | \-          |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 2\. Tomato  | Thai Pan    | 1994        | \-          | Not         |
|             | Trading     |             |             | permitted   |
|             | Co., Ltd    |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 3\. Tomato  | UpJohn Inc. | 1995        | Antisent    | Trial       |
|             |             |             | RNA         | completed   |
|             |             |             | (delayed    |             |
|             |             |             | fruit       |             |
|             |             |             | ripening)   |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 4\. Tomato  | Thai Pan    | 1995        | \-          | Not         |
|             | Trading     |             |             | imported    |
|             | Co., Ltd.   |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 5\. Cotton  | Monsanto    | 1995        | Bt Cry 1A © | Trial       |
|             | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 6\. Corn    | Novartis    | 1996        | Bt          | Approved    |
|             | Thailand    |             |             | under       |
|             | Co., Ltd.   |             |             | containment |
|             |             |             |             | at Novartis |
|             |             |             |             | experiment  |
|             |             |             |             | station     |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 7\. Cotton  | Monsanto    | 1996        | Bt Cry 1A © | Trial       |
|             | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 8\. Squash  | Department  | 1996        | Coat        | Trial       |
|             | of          |             | Protein     | contained   |
|             | Agriculture |             | PRSV        | in lab and  |
|             |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 9\. Mali    | Department  | 1997        | Xa21        | Trial       |
| 105 Rice    | of          |             |             | contained   |
|             | Agriculture |             |             | in          |
|             |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 10\. Papaya | Department  | 1997        | CP-gene of  | Trial in    |
|             | of          |             | PRSV        | field       |
|             | Agriculture |             |             | planting in |
|             |             |             |             | DOA's       |
|             |             |             |             | research    |
|             |             |             |             | station     |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 11\. Cotton | Monsanto    | 1997        | Bt Cry 1A © | Trial       |
| (NUCOTN 33  | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| B)          | Ltd.        |             | (Resistant  |             |
|             |             |             | to American |             |
|             |             |             | ballworm)   |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 12\. Cotton | Monsanto    | 1997        | CP 4EPSPS   | Trial       |
| (roundup    | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| 1445, 1698) | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 13\. Corn   | Pioneer     | 1997        | Bt (Mon     | Trail       |
|             | Overseas    |             | 810)        | contained   |
|             | Seeds Corp. |             |             | in          |
|             | Thailand    |             | Resistant   | greenhouse  |
|             |             |             | to Asiatic  |             |
|             |             |             | corn stalk  |             |
|             |             |             | borer       |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 14\. Dry,   | Dekalb      | 1997        | Bt          | Approved by |
| Powdered Bt | Genetics    |             |             | NBC, no     |
| Corn        | Corp.       |             |             | response    |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 15\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 1997        | Bt          | In          |
|             | Thailand    |             |             | appropriate |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             | imports,    |
|             |             |             |             | destroyed   |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 16\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 1997        | Roundup     | In          |
| (roundup)   | Thailand    |             | resistant   | appropriate |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             | imports,    |
|             |             |             |             | destroyed   |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 17\. Tomato | A local     | 1997        | SAVR        | Not         |
|             | company     |             |             | permitted   |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 18\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 1998        | mEPSPS      | Trial       |
| (Glyfosate  | Thailand    |             |             | contained   |
| herbicide   | Ltd.        |             |             | in          |
| resistance) |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 19\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 1998        | Bt (Mon     | Trial       |
|             | Thailand    |             | 810)        | completed   |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             | in          |
|             |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 20\. Corn   | Charoen     | 1998        | PAT         | Not         |
| (DLL25      | Produce     |             |             | permitted   |
| Glyfosinate | Co., Ltd.   |             |             |             |
| resistance) |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 21\. Corn   | Cargill     | 1998        | Bt Cry 1 A  | Trial       |
| (CHAW 9703  | Seed Co.,   |             | (b)         | suspended   |
| Bt)         | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 22\. Corn   | Novartis    | 1998        | Bt event    | Not         |
| (Bt event   | Thailand    |             | 176         | appropriate |
| 176)        | Co., Ltd.   |             |             | imports,    |
|             |             |             |             | destroyed   |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 23\. Hybrid | Novartis    | 1998        | Bt event    | Trial       |
| Corn Bt.    | Thailand    |             | 176         | completed   |
| Event 176   | Co., Ltd.   |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 24\. Hybrid | Mansanto    | 1999        | Bt cry 1A © | Trial       |
| Cotton      | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| non-Bt      | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 25\. Cotton | Monsanto    | 1999        | CP 4EPSPS   | Trial       |
| (roundup    | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| resistance, | Ltd.        |             |             | in          |
| line 1445)  |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 26.Corn     | Monsanto    | 1999        | mEPSPS      | Trial       |
| GA-21       | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| (roundup    | Ltd.        |             |             | in          |
| resistance) |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 27\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 1999        | Bt (Mon     | Trial       |
|             | Thailand    |             | 810)        | contained   |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             | in small    |
|             |             |             |             | field plot  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 28\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 2000        | Glyfosate   | \-          |
| Chaw 9703   | Thailand    |             | resistance  |             |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 29\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 2000        | Bt Cry 1A   | Pending     |
| C-919 Bt    | Thailand    |             | (b)         | Request for |
|             | Ltd.        |             |             | field trial |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 30\. Corn   | Monsanto    | 2000        | CP-EPSPS    | Pending     |
| C-919 603   | Thailand    |             |             | request for |
| (roundup    | Ltd.        |             |             | trial lab   |
| resistance) |             |             |             | and         |
|             |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 31\. Papaya | Kasetsart   | 2000        | CP-gene of  | Trial       |
|             | University  |             | PRSV        | contained   |
|             |             |             |             | in lab and  |
|             |             |             |             | greenhouse  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 32\. Cotton | Monsanto    | 2000        | Bt cry 1A © | Field Trial |
| NUCOTN33    | Thailand    |             |             | completed   |
| (American   | Ltd.        |             |             |             |
| bollworm    |             |             |             |             |
| resistance) |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

End of Report.