Would you eat 10 year old rice? Activist demands court intervention

Srisuwan Janya, a prominent solo activist, has taken his concerns to the Central Administrative Court, aiming to urgently halt the Commerce Ministry’s proposal to auction off roughly 15,000 tons of rice from the scandal-ridden rice pledging scheme of the Yingluck Shinawatra government. In his petition, Srisuwan stressed the objections of numerous rice experts who argue against the auction, citing concerns that rice stored for over a decade loses its nutritional value, becomes inedible, and may be infested with insects. Despite assurances from the Department of Medical Sciences regarding the rice’s safety for consumption, Srisuwan raised doubts about the reliability of these tests, questioning whether the samples tested genuinely originated from the designated warehouses in Surin province.

A key point of contention lies in the auction’s terms, scheduled for June, which do not specify whether the rice must be exported or can be sold domestically. Srisuwan warned that exporting this aged rice could damage Thailand’s global rice reputation while selling it domestically, posing health risks to consumers. He urged the court to intervene and suspend the auction, overseen by the Public Warehouse Organisation under the Commerce Ministry’s purview, as reported by Thai PBS World. Srisuwan emphasized the potential harm to Thailand’s agricultural reputation and the health of its citizens.

Update: Panel Established for Auction of Decade-Old Rice

A dedicated panel has been formed to oversee the auction of the remaining 15,000 tons of rice from the contentious rice-pledging scheme initiated during Yingluck Shinawatra’s tenure as Prime Minister. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced this development, with the panel tasked with drafting the auction’s terms of reference (ToR), which is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPMC) has granted the panel authority to proceed without further review.

The panel comprises representatives from various organizations, including the Public Warehouse Organisation, the Marketing Organisation for Farmers, the Internal Trade Department, the Foreign Trade Department, and the Thai Chamber of Commerce. The auction is anticipated to occur early next month or by the end of June.

Potential bidders will be able to assess the rice quality according to standards set by the Commerce Ministry. Phumtham states that the rice is intended to be exported to Africa. He expressed optimism about the auction’s outcome and highlighted that the revenue generated will benefit the state coffers. Phumtham called for an end to rice controversies, urging critics to focus on more pressing issues, such as the economy. He reiterated the safety of the rice as confirmed by the Department of Medical Sciences and a private laboratory, despite ongoing skepticism from critics regarding the origin of the tested samples.

Original Story: Thai Government to Auction Decade-Old Rice After Safety Confirmation

The Thai government plans to proceed with the auction of rice from Yingluck Shinawatra’s pledging scheme, stored in two Surin warehouses for ten years, following laboratory tests confirming its safety. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, currently in Italy, announced that tests conducted by a private laboratory on samples from the Surin warehouses revealed no aflatoxins or other chemical residues. Phumtham welcomed the results, mainly since journalists provided the samples and also tested by the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSc).

With the rice deemed safe, Phumtham instructed the Public Warehouse Organisation to prepare the auction’s terms of reference and draft contracts. DMSc Director-General Dr. Yongyot Thammavudhi confirmed the completion of testing on rice samples from the Commerce Ministry, with results to be disclosed at a press conference.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed the government’s willingness to have the rice quality assessed by a neutral agency to ensure its suitability for export. Phumtham stressed the necessity of auctioning off the remaining rice from the loss-incurring pledging scheme to generate revenue and reduce storage costs, estimated to be up to 380,000 baht monthly. The rice is expected to be exported to Africa.

Earlier inspections by Phumtham and officials at the Surin warehouses aimed to demonstrate the rice’s edibility after ten years of storage. Critics voiced concerns about potential health hazards due to multiple fumigation cycles over the decade. An organic chemistry expert claimed to have found aflatoxins in rice samples from the Surin warehouses, raising further doubts.

Related: Reap profits from collecting mushrooms

Critics also highlighted concerns about the controversy’s impact on the reputation of Thai rice in international markets, given the history of the rice-pledging scheme’s losses and corruption allegations. Despite efforts to address safety concerns and proceed with the auction, skepticism persists among critics regarding the quality and safety of the rice.