Thai investigate fake fragrant rice in China
By Feng Jianmin |
01:08 UTC+8 September 7, 2010
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THAILAND is investigating Thai fragrant rice sold on Chinese mainland after media reports said 90 percent of the products are counterfeit, a Thailand Embassy official in Beijing told Shanghai Daily.
After finding fake Thai fragrant rice sold on the mainland, Thailand authorities have already informed the Chinese side and some Chinese government departments are also involved in the investigation, the official with Office of Agricultural Affairs said.
"The fake rice is mainly produced in the Jiangxi Province and in Northeast China," she said. "The difference is barely perceptible unless the rice is cooked."
She declined to comment on the exact amount of fake rice on circulation.
The issue was first raised in Guangdong Province, China's largest market for Thai fragrant rice, where shops were found to process ordinary long-grain rice with artificial flavors. Speculators may double their earnings by selling long-grain rice as Thai fragrant rice at the market price of between 10.40 to 11 yuan (US$1.62) a kilo.
China lacks authoritative quality control for Thai fragrant rice sold on market for high cost.
"The only way to differentiate between the genuine fragrant rice and the fake is through DNA tests, and the equipment may cost up to 1 million US dollars," an officer with Thai's Department of Export and Promotion told China Economic Observer.
Besides the competition from fake rice, Thai fragrant rice is losing market share to more cheaply grown domestic and Vietnamese rices.
Statistics from customers show that the price for Thai fragrance rice has more than doubled to US$1,000 a ton since 2007.
Market watchers say that Vietnam may take over from Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter by 2015.
After finding fake Thai fragrant rice sold on the mainland, Thailand authorities have already informed the Chinese side and some Chinese government departments are also involved in the investigation, the official with Office of Agricultural Affairs said.
"The fake rice is mainly produced in the Jiangxi Province and in Northeast China," she said. "The difference is barely perceptible unless the rice is cooked."
She declined to comment on the exact amount of fake rice on circulation.
The issue was first raised in Guangdong Province, China's largest market for Thai fragrant rice, where shops were found to process ordinary long-grain rice with artificial flavors. Speculators may double their earnings by selling long-grain rice as Thai fragrant rice at the market price of between 10.40 to 11 yuan (US$1.62) a kilo.
China lacks authoritative quality control for Thai fragrant rice sold on market for high cost.
"The only way to differentiate between the genuine fragrant rice and the fake is through DNA tests, and the equipment may cost up to 1 million US dollars," an officer with Thai's Department of Export and Promotion told China Economic Observer.
Besides the competition from fake rice, Thai fragrant rice is losing market share to more cheaply grown domestic and Vietnamese rices.
Statistics from customers show that the price for Thai fragrance rice has more than doubled to US$1,000 a ton since 2007.
Market watchers say that Vietnam may take over from Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter by 2015.
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