New Saudi Quality Rule Puts Thai Poultry Industry on Notice – Nation Thailand

New Saudi Arabian Trade Regulation for Poultry Imports

Introduction of Saudi G.A.P. Certification

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instituted a new trade regulation, designated ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ (Good Agricultural Practices), for all imported poultry products. This standard mandates that exporting nations, including Thailand, must secure new certification to maintain market access. The regulation was formally communicated to Thailand’s National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) on August 14, 2024, by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Saudi G.A.P. standard is fundamentally structured to advance several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring food safety and sustainability throughout the entire agricultural supply chain.

Enhancing Food Security and Well-being (SDG 2 & SDG 3)

The primary objective of the G.A.P. standard is to build consumer confidence by guaranteeing the safety of agricultural products. This directly supports:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring a safe, reliable food supply.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By minimizing foodborne risks and ensuring poultry products are safe for consumption.

Promoting Responsible Production and Environmental Stewardship (SDG 12, SDG 6, SDG 15)

The standard extends beyond food safety to encompass comprehensive environmental and production criteria, aligning with responsible consumption and production patterns. Key requirements include:

1. Efficient Water Usage: This measure directly contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by promoting responsible water management in agriculture.
2. Environmental Protection and Pest Control: A focus on sustainable farming methods and pest management supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) by protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
3. Documented Tracking Systems: Mandating traceability across the supply chain enhances transparency and accountability, a core principle of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Upholding Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The Saudi G.A.P. framework also incorporates social sustainability by addressing labor standards. This focus on worker conditions is a critical component of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), ensuring that economic benefits from trade do not come at the expense of human welfare. Compliance allows producers to sustain their economic activity through continued access to the Saudi market.

Implementation and Scope

Regulatory Application

Originally launched by MEWA in 2018 to improve the domestic agricultural sector, the Saudi G.A.P. standard is now being extended to all imported poultry. As reported by Dr. Chaiwat Yothakol, Secretary-General of ACFS, the regulation will apply to all forms of Thai poultry exports.

Affected Products

The certification requirement covers a comprehensive range of poultry products, including but not limited to:

• Whole chickens
• Chicken breasts
• Chicken legs
• Chicken wings

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article’s core subject is the regulation of agricultural products (poultry) to ensure food safety and sustainability. The ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ (Good Agricultural Practices) standard is designed to enhance the agricultural sector and improve farming methods, which directly contributes to achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ standard explicitly includes “efficient water usage” as a key requirement for certification. This directly connects the regulation to the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The regulation addresses “worker conditions” as part of its comprehensive standard. This aligns with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth and ensuring safe and secure working environments for all workers in the agricultural supply chain.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The entire ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ initiative is centered on ensuring sustainability “across the entire supply chain.” It covers environmental protection, pest control, and tracking systems, all of which are fundamental components of establishing sustainable production patterns. By imposing these standards on imports, it encourages producing countries like Thailand to adopt more sustainable practices.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…”
   • The article states that the ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ standard aims to improve farming methods and ensure sustainability. Requiring this certification for imported poultry directly promotes the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices by Thai producers.
2. Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors…”
   • The standard’s specific requirement for “efficient water usage” directly addresses this target by making water efficiency a condition for market access.
3. Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…”
   • The inclusion of “worker conditions” in the certification criteria means that producers must demonstrate compliance with standards for labor, contributing directly to this target.
4. Target 12.6: “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.”
   • The regulation effectively forces Thai poultry producers (companies) to adopt the sustainable practices outlined in the ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ standard. The certification process itself serves as a mechanism for integrating and reporting on these sustainability measures.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 2.4: The primary indicator is the adoption of the ‘Saudi G.A.P.’ certification. Progress can be measured by the number or percentage of Thai poultry producers that successfully obtain this certification, which serves as a proxy for the proportion of agriculture under sustainable practices (related to official indicator 2.4.1).
2. For Target 6.4: The “efficient water usage” requirement implies the need for measurement and documentation. An implied indicator would be the data on water consumption per unit of production that farms must provide to achieve certification, which relates to measuring changes in water-use efficiency (indicator 6.4.1).
3. For Target 8.8: The “documented tracking systems” and audits for “worker conditions” serve as an indicator. Progress can be measured by the rate of compliance with labor standards within the certified producers, verified through the certification process.
4. For Target 12.6: The “documented tracking systems” mentioned in the article is a direct indicator. These systems provide transparent data on the entire supply chain, from water usage and pest control to worker conditions, effectively serving as a sustainability report required for market access. The number of companies with such certified systems measures progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nationthailand.com