What To Know
- A 40-tonne shipment of Thai jasmine rice carrying an organic label has been blocked from sale in Poland after authorities discovered that key certification paperwork did not satisfy European Union requirements.
- Poland’s Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) discovered the discrepancy during a routine standards check in Gdańsk, according to Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion, citing the Thai Trade Centre in Warsaw.
A 40-tonne shipment of Thai jasmine rice carrying an organic label has been blocked from sale in Poland after authorities discovered that key certification paperwork did not satisfy European Union requirements. Thai officials have emphasized that the issue concerns the timing of documentation rather than the quality or safety of the rice.
Image Credit: Bangkok Business News
Poland’s Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) discovered the discrepancy during a routine standards check in Gdańsk, according to Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion, citing the Thai Trade Centre in Warsaw. In the middle of scrutiny surrounding the shipment, this Bangkok Business News report highlights that the Certificate of Inspection (COI) was issued after the vessel had already departed Thailand, conflicting with strict EU organic import regulations.
Departure Date Creates Certification Problem
Documents initially available to the exporter indicated that the shipment was expected to leave Thailand on April 9. Based on that schedule, an application for the mandatory COI was submitted to Bioagricert through the European Union’s TRACES NT system on April 7.
Bioagricert approved and issued the certificate on April 8.
The problem emerged when the original bill of lading provided by the shipping line showed the vessel had actually departed on April 6 — two days before the certificate was issued.
Under EU regulations, a valid COI must be issued before an organic shipment leaves its exporting country. The timing discrepancy therefore meant the Thai rice could not be imported and marketed in Poland under the organic designation.
Authorities reported no consumer health concerns and identified no quality problems with the rice itself.
Poland Applies Rules Across Imports
Thai trade officials stressed that the inspection should not be interpreted as action specifically targeting Thailand.
IJHARS regularly examines imported and domestically produced food, checking areas including product quality, labels, origin information and certification. The same regulatory requirements apply to products entering Poland from countries outside the EU.
Previous enforcement has affected other exporters. More than 6,600 litres of South African white wine were previously prevented from entering the Polish market because required bottling information was missing from its labelling.
Thai Organic Rice Market Keeps Growing
The incident nevertheless carries an important warning for Thai exporters seeking opportunities in premium overseas markets, where even administrative discrepancies can create significant commercial consequences.
Thailand exported 22,378 tonnes of organic rice worth US$31.1 million, or approximately 1.095 billion baht, in 2024, representing 32% growth from 2023.
Organic jasmine rice accounted for 72.1% of those shipments, while organic brown rice represented 23.1%, white rice 3.3% and broken rice 1.5%.
Thailand also has considerable room for expansion. The global organic rice market was valued at approximately US$7.8 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach US$12 billion by 2034.
The Polish case demonstrates why precise certification, shipping documentation and regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important as Thailand competes for environmentally conscious, high-spending consumers. Demand for Thai organic rice remains promising, but exporters seeking long-term growth in strict markets such as the EU will need to ensure every stage of certification matches actual shipping schedules.
