EXPORTING ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTS FROM THAILAND TO THE UK/EU
The European Commission has recognised that a number of third countries operate production rules and inspection systems which are equivalent to those operating within the EU. These countries and products are listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) 94/92 as amended. Approved products from these countries, provided they have been inspected and certified by one of the approved inspection bodies, may be brought freely into the EU and marketed as organic.
All produce from third countries labelled as organic must conform to strict rules which cover all stages of production and processing. In the European Union (EU), the basic rules governing organic production, processing and import are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) 2092/91 as amended.
Products from all other third countries can be brought in to the EC and labelled as organic, provided prior authorisation of your competent authority according to article 11 (6) of Regulation 2092/91 has been obtained.
Certification Bodies
Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand (ACT)
801/21 Ngamwongwan Rd., Soi 27, Bang Khean,
Nontaburi 11000
Telephone:66 (0) 2 580 093466, (0) 2 952 6677
Fax: 66 (0) 2 580 0934
Email: actnet@ksc.th.com , info@actorganic-cert.or.th
Website: www.actorganic-cert.or.th
Has approval of organic certification body by the European Union
IFOAM accreditation from the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS)
Biocert (Thailand)
Email: bioagricert_thailand@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.bioagricert-thai.org
The Thai Organic Trader Association (TOTA)
126/106 Thaisri Tower
Krungthonburi Road
Banglumpoo-Lang
Klong San
Bangkok 10600
Tel : 02-867-8777 Ext. 2165
Fax : 02-860-9020
E-mail : admin@thaiorganictrade.com
Website: http://www.thaiorganictrade.com/
In the UK, the competent government authority is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Defra Organic Imports
8th Floor, 9 Millbank
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel: 020 7238 5777/6059
http://www.defra.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-application-to-market-in-the-eu-organic-products-from-third-countries
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69651/ob11.pdf
The word ‘organic’ is defined in law. EU rules apply to the organic production, labelling and control of organic products. Organic control bodies or certification bodies (CBs) license individual organic operators. They are approved in the UK by Defra. You must be registered with one of the CBs, comply with their standards and meet their requirements in order to market your produce as ‘organic’. A full list is at the Defra link below.
The Soil Association Certification is the UK’s largest organic certification body, responsible for certifying over 70% of all organic products sold in the country.
http://www.soilassociation.org/
http://www.sacert.org/
Organic Farmers & Growers Ltd (OF&G) is another of the control bodies accredited by Defra and is approved to inspect organic production and processing in the UK. As a Defra approved control body OF&G has established its own Organic Assurance Scheme with the following types of operations – Importers of organic products from EU member states and third countries
Website: http://ofgorganic.org/
To get the COSMOS standard organic certification, 95% of a product’s farmed ingredients and 20% of the entire product, must be organic. The remaining ingredients must meet strict criteria to ensure that they are not damaging to our health or the environment. Products must also meet environmental standards for packaging and manufacturing, and use approved ‘green chemistry’ processes to modify ingredients.
If a product uses between 70-95% organic agro-ingredients they will certify it, but not allow it to claim to be organic. In this case, it can state that it is made with ‘xx% organic ingredients’. However, we will not certify any product with less than 70% organic ingredients at all.
The entire supplier chain needs to be covered by certification, brands, manufacturers and suppliers.
This Standard has been developed at the European and international level by BDIH (Germany),COSMEBIO & ECOCERT (France), ICEA (Italy) and SOIL ASSOCIATION (UK) who are the founders of the COSMOS-standard AISBL (an international non-profit association registered in Belgium) in order to define common requirements and definitions for organic and/or natural cosmetics.
Understanding the EU market
http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htm?page=rt%2frt_UnderstandingTheEUMarket.html&docType=main&languageId=en
EU import procedures
http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htm?page=rt/rt_EUImportProcedures.html&docType=main&languageId=EN
European Commission Taxation and Customs Union
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm
European Commission Trade Market Access database Tariffs
Example for Cosmetics – Product Code: 33049930 Other face or skin creams and lotions
http://madb.europa.eu/madb/atDutyDetailPubli.htm?datasetid=MAAT-TH16-02v001&hscode=33049930&countries=TH&datacat_id=AT&keyword=&submit=&pathtoimage=http://madb.europa.eu/at/images/&showall=F#
EXPORTING COSMETIC PRODUCTS FROM THAILAND TO THE UK/EU
Cosmetic, Toiletries & Perfumery Association (CTPA)
www.ctpa.org.uk
Supplying Cosmetic Products on the UK Market – A CTPA Guide to What You Need to Know 2016
http://www.ctpa.org.uk/content.aspx?pageid=422
Cosmetic products safety regulations:
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/
Import duties and other relevant information concerning tariff quotas and regulations can be sourced from the following dedicated UK/EU websites:
https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/measures.jsp?Lang=en
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS INTO THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND
Firstly you must obtain a UK Export Health Certificate (EHC) – Form 2917EHC – V3 Dogs & Cats to Thailand, which can be obtained via your local vet, who will have contact details of the local area Official Veterinarian (OV) of the UK government Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) , this comes under the remit of DEFRA. You will then need to scan and send a copy of the English EHC, along your full contact details to the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) Quarantine Control Section at Suvarnabhumi Airport which will enable them to facilitate the importation procedure and arrange an import permit. The animal must be micro chipped and must travel in sky kennel that is airline approved. If the animal weighs 10kg or less when inside the carrier, they may be able to fly in the cabin with you.
1) A health certificate in English, signed or further endorsed by a full-time authorized veterinary official of the government of the exporting country, if it is previously acknowledged by a veterinary surgeon, stating :-
1.1) number and species ,
1.2) breed, sex, age and color or animal identification,
1.3) name and address of the owner OR the kennel of origin,
1.4) certification of condition items (2) to (5).
2) The animals must come from an area where animal diseases are under control. They are found to be healthy, free from signs of any infectious and contagious diseases including ectoparasitism at the time of export and fit to travel.
3) The country has been free from Rabies for at least the past 12 (twelve) months OR the animals are vaccinated against Rabies with an official approved vaccine not less than 21 (twenty- one) days prior to the departure.
4) EITHER a) The dog is vaccinated against Leptospirosis at least 21(twenty-one) days preceding departure.
OR b) The dog is subjected to a test for Leptospirosis with negative result during the 30 (thirty) days prior to the departure.
5) The animals shall be vaccinated against other significant infectious or contagious diseases i.e. Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvovirus, with an official approved vaccine at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the departure. The animal is MicroChiped.
6) The animals must be conveyed in nose-and-paw proof crates designed to avoid any risk of injury or unnecessary suffering.
7) The animals are not allowed to expose to other animals if they have to be landed in transit at any approved intermediate port. They shall not be allowed to leave precinct of the port except to an officially approved transit quarantine area.
8) The animals are subjected to quarantine at approved premises for a period of at least 30 (thirty) days upon arrival during which they shall be submitted to tests and/or treatments deemed necessary. The importer/owner shall be fully charged for the incurred expenses.
9) Failure to follow the import procedures may result in returning the animals to the country of origin or destroying without compensation.
The contact details of the DLD are as follows:
Department of Livestock Development
Bureau of Animal Disease Control & Veterinary Services
Phayathai Road
Ratchtavee 10400
Tel:(662) 653 4444
Fax: (662) 653 4929
Email: quarantine_dcontrol@dld.go.th
Website: www.dld.go.th
DLD Suvarnabhumi Airport Quarantine Section
Transportation Control and Quarantine Division
Free Zone Area ,CE 1 Building
Tel: (662) 134 0635, 134 0732, 134 7031
Email: qsap_bkk@dld.go.th
Email : dcontrol8@dld.go.th