The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has held bilateral talks with United States agricultural officials to strengthen safety surveillance of imported fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Thai FDA, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Attaché, and the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative. Discussions focused on aligning regulatory standards and strengthening consumer protection related to pesticide residues.

Dr Rungruethai Muanprasitporn, deputy secretary-general of the Thai FDA, hosted the delegation at the agency’s One-Stop Service Centre in Bangkok. The discussions focused on harmonising border inspection systems and improving understanding of each country’s food safety framework.

Key topics included sampling methods at ports of entry, laboratory analysis for chemical residues, and enforcement procedures when imported consignments exceed statutory maximum residue limits (MRLs).

Dr Rungruethai said coordination between regulatory agencies is important to maintain confidence in the domestic food supply chain. The U.S. delegation outlined its regulatory approach for monitoring and managing chemical residues in agricultural exports.

The Thai FDA said the technical exchange is expected to support long-term scientific cooperation, allowing Thai inspectors to access U.S. compliance data and data-sharing networks.

“This meeting marks an excellent opportunity to strengthen technical cooperation and share regulatory experiences between Thailand and the United States,” Dr Rungruethai concluded.

He added that future policy updates would remain based on scientific principles to protect public health while supporting international trade.