BANGKOK: The Executive Committee of the Thai Seed Trade Association (ThaSTA) has revised its seed shelf life recommendations for retail labels covering 34 types of vegetable and field crop seeds.
Initially
announced by ThaSTA in November last year, the recommendations denote maximum retail shelf life recommendations in months for both hybrid and OP varieties of popular crop seeds sold throughout Thailand.
The recommendations (as shown in table below) – based on standard ambient conditions for seed retail space (storefront) in Thailand, which assume a temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius, shade (from sun, rain and other weather elements) and moisture-proof packaging – are to be counted from the date of seed testing.
The revised recommendations were underlined in a document signed May 25 by ThaSTA President Dr Chairerg Sagwansupyakorn following the latest in meetings between testing officials and seed enterprise representatives who have been working together to standardize the quality of retail seeds in the Kingdom.
[caption id="attachment_4271" align="aligncenter" width="750"]
ThaSTA representatives join Thai officials to inspect seed retailers. Photo: ThaSTA[/caption]
According to ThaSTA, the only change in the revised edition involved the recommendation for hybrid watermelon seeds, which was extended to 24 months from 12 months, previously. The recommendation for OP watermelon seed varieties is still 12 months.
In a message to its members sharing the revised document, ThaSTA said that the recommendations will be presented to the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Thai authority responsible for enforcing seed testing as mandated by the Thailand’s Plant Act.
The most common seed tests in Thailand include screening for pests (PRA), chemical residuals (MRL), vitality and germination rates.
According to the Plant Act, retail vegetable and crop seed must have germination rates of no less than 80%, while packaging must display expiration date of the seeds.
However, according to ThaSTA, some seed producers, distributors and retailers in recent months have come under scrutiny by the DoA for failure of their seeds to meet the germination standards.
Failure to comply with the requirements may result in criminal prosecution in Thailand, where high production and retail standards are being pushed as part of efforts to develop the country into an international “Seed Hub”.
APSA has translated the latest recommendations as displayed in the following.
|
Crop Seed |
Hybrid |
O.P. |
| Green okra กระเจี๊ยบเขียว |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Garlic (leaf) กระเทียมใบ |
|
|
6 |
| Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese kale, Broccoli กะหล่ำปลี, กะหล่ำดอก, คะน้า, บรอคโคลี่ |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Paddy ข้าวเปลือก |
24 |
24 |
24 |
| Corn feed ข้าวโพดอาหารสัตว์ |
18 |
18 |
|
| Waxy corn ข้าวโพดข้าวเนียว |
18 |
18 |
12 |
| Baby corn ข้าวโพดฝักอ่อน |
18 |
18 |
|
| Sweet corn ข้าวโพดหวาน |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Sorghum ข้าวฟ่าง |
18 |
18 |
|
| Cantaloupe, Muskmelon, Melon แคนตาลูป, แตงเทศ, เมล่อน |
18 |
18 |
|
| Cucumber แตงกวา, แตงร้าน |
24 |
24 |
18 |
| Watermelon แตงโม |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Yardlong bean ถั่วฝักยาว |
|
|
18 |
| Pea ถั่วลันเตา |
|
|
12 |
| Mung bean ถั่วเขียว |
|
|
12 |
| Black gram ถั่วเขียวผิวดำ |
|
|
12 |
| Soya ถั่วเหลือง |
|
|
6 |
| Sunflower ทานตะวัน |
12 |
12 |
|
| Luffa/ ridge gourd บวบเหลี่ยม |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Bok choi, Napa cabbage ผักกาดกวางตุ้ง, ผักกาดขาว |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Mustard greeens ผักก่าดเขียว |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Lettuce ผักกาดหอม |
|
|
12 |
| Chinese radish ผักกาดหัว |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Coriander ผักชี |
|
|
12 |
| Water spinach ผักบุ้ง |
|
|
18 |
| Chilli พริก |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Sweet pepper พริกหวาน |
18 |
18 |
|
| Pumpkin ฟักทอง |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Wax gourd ฟัก, แฟง |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Bitter gourd มะระจีน, มะระขี้นก |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Eggplant, Thai eggplant มะเขือยาว, มะเขือม่วง, มะเขือเปราะ |
24 |
24 |
12 |
| Tomato มะเขือเทศ |
24 |
24 |
18 |
| Onion หอมหัวใหญ่ |
12 |
12 |
|
| Papaya มะละกอ |
12 |
12 |
12 |
The above information was compiled with the help of APSA’s Intern, Ms. Souwanee Sewiset 