PUBLISHED : 25 Aug 2023 at 04:00
The Department of Agriculture will introduce a new label for coconut products that were not made with coconuts that were harvested by monkeys.
The introduction of the Monkey Free Plus (MFP) label followed accusations from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), which have harmed the export of cocunuts and coconut-based products to the United States, Canada, Europe and other markets, said the department’s director-general, Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs, yesterday.
A group of coconut milk producers had in July urged the government to act against the allegations and hire a lobbyist to defend the industry’s interests after it was claimed that the monkeys used in the harvesting of coconuts in Thailand are often abused.
Peta tweeted on its account: “Reminder that if you see ‘Thai’ or ‘Thailand’ on a can of coconut milk, leave it on the shelf. The Thai coconut industry kidnaps countless monkeys as babies & later forces them to pick coconuts.”
An industry source said the reputation of Thailand’s coconut industry has been hurt by Peta’s allegations, which were first made in July 2020. The claims resurfaced in November last year before emerging again in the middle of this year.
Consumers will be able to trace the origin of the coconuts contained in products registered under the new certification system, Mr Rapibhat said.
A formal announcement on the details of the certification process will be announced in the Royal Gazette, he said.
“In the beginning, the department will be working together with the private sector to encourage coconut growers to get their crop certified,” he said.
“The label will be promoted along with the existing Good Agricultural Practice [GAP] guideline in an attempt to help coconut growers meet modern industry standards,” said Mr Rapibhat.