Insects hit Thai vegetable exports

Thailand will suspend exports of 16 vegetables to the European Union next month, including basil, aubergines and chillies, after EU food safety inspectors found the products contaminated with insects, officials said today.

The pre-emptive move by Thailand was taken to avoid a formal EU ban, which would take more time to lift, said Jirakorn Kosiasewe, a senior official at the Agriculture Ministry.