BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Thai Enquirer): China has expanded its import ban on all syrup and processed sugar products from Thailand after food safety inspections found that none of the ten Thai factories assessed met Chinese standards. The move, which took effect on October 27, 2025, is expected to cost the industry billions of baht and threaten the survival of many exporters who rely heavily on the Chinese market.
The new suspension adds four more product categories to the existing restrictions, including flavored sugar solutions and syrups, and also bars new registration applications for Thai manufacturers. It follows an earlier ban imposed in December 2024 on two customs codes -170290110 (syrup) and 1702901200 (premixed sugar powder)- which had already caused losses estimated at 50 billion baht and pushed down sugar prices.
Todsaporn Ruangpattananont, president of the Thai Sugar Product Association, said the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) inspected ten Thai factories in July 2025 but found that none met the required hygiene and quality standards, even though each had invested tens of millions of baht in upgrading facilities such as sterilization rooms, production zones, and cleanrooms.
As a result, Thai exporters can no longer ship any syrup or premixed sugar products to China, and only limited quantities of raw sugar can still be exported under quota restrictions.
He said the outcome had left many producers dismayed because they had fully cooperated with the inspection process, only for China to not only maintain but expand the ban. He noted that GACC's reasoning- that Thailand lacked a competent authority to oversee product safety- was inaccurate, as the country already has established agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS).
Todsaporn urged the Ministry of Commerce to take the lead in negotiating directly with GACC to resolve the issue. The association is seeking three urgent measures: to allow shipment of goods currently stranded at ports, to permit export of finished products stored in warehouses, and to officially designate ACFS as the lead agency responsible for monitoring and certifying factory quality standards.
He also called on the Senate Committee on Commerce and Industry for assistance, noting that it was the only government body that had previously stepped in to help during the 2024 suspension by facilitating new export opportunities in the Philippines.
Senator Ekkachai Ruangrat, a member of the committee, said the ongoing import ban has seriously affected sugarcane farmers nationwide, as falling sugar prices are already causing financial hardship. He said the Senate has assigned him to coordinate with relevant ministries and stakeholders on the matter.
Ekkachai said the problem has been made more complex because multiple agencies - including the FDA, ACFS, and the Ministry of Commerce - are involved in regulating sugar exports, He called on Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to intervene personally to clarify which agency should be officially responsible for ensuring compliance with Chinese food safety standards.
In addition, Ekkachai has called for an investigation into the domestic sugar export quota system following reports of potential irregularities in the allocation process. He urged the government to clarify whether any exporters had received preferential treatment or exceeded their permitted quotas, and to ensure that quota allocations are managed transparently under regulations designed to protect domestic supply.
He added that GACC had cited the lack of a clear quality-control authority as one reason for maintaining the ban, emphasizing that a swift government response is essential to protect the Thai sugar industry ahead of the upcoming sugarcane harvest season.
The Senate committee has urged the government to begin talks with China without delay to prevent further damage to the industry and to minimize the impact on farmers and the broader economy.
Photo from Finimize
