Mr. Chinawat Tongchat and Mr. Piriya Srichao, scientists from Department of Science Service (DSS) participated in the training program “Analysis of Surrogate Substances from Challenge Test in rPET” during 4 – 8 September 2023 at the laboratory of Aragon Institute for Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Spain. The training aimed to provide the analytical technique for determining of the surrogate substances, including Chlorobenzene (Volatile polar substance), Toluene (Volatile non-polar substance), Benzophenone (Non-volatile polar substance) and Phenylcyclohexane (non-volatile non-polar substance) in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) to evaluate the decontamination efficiency of recycling process of PET for reproducing FCM by challenge test according to EU guideline.

      Department of Science Service, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, as ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (AFRL for FCM), representative the delegates from Food Products and Food Contact Materials Division and Chemicals and Consumer Products Division to attended the 14th ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory Committee Meeting (AFTLC) held in Manila, Philippines, during 17 – 18 June 2019. There were ten countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam, participating in this meeting. The meeting aims to consider the documents and the procedures relating to AFRL, the results from the onsite-visit at the candidate laboratories of new AFRL for Marine Biotoxins and Scombrotoxin, and the full-year reports on the activities of existing AFRLs. In addition, the meeting requested the support from PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), Germany, to organize the PT schemes and training programs for national food reference laboratories (NFRL). These aim to strengthen the testing capability for food safety in ASEAN region.

       Department of Science Service (DSS) cooperating with Office of Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Science and Technology, organized FCM Training 2019: Food Contact Regulations for Rubber Products during March 19th – 21st, 2019 at DSS.

       The objectives of the training were to enhance the capability of laboratory personnel of ASEAN member countries and to provide Thai small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the information of international regulations and standards for food contact rubbers as well as the determination of residual powder, aqueous extractable protein content, Nitrosamine and Nitrosatable in rubber products. In this regard, Dr. Martin Forrest, the expert from Smithers Rapra, UK, was invited to be the lecturer. There were totally 40 participants consisting of 23 from Thai SMEs and 17 from national food reference laboratories of 9 ASEAN Member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). In addition, the ASEAN delegates visited Royal Industries (Thailand) Public Company Limited on March 21st, 2019 in order to study the manufacturing processes of silicone teats and plastic baby bottles including the quality control of products at in-house testing laboratory. In conclusion, this training brought the opportunity to exchange the knowledge and information of regulations on food contact materials among Thai manufacturers, analysts, and experts as well as creating the network of food contact materials safety among ASEAN region.

      Department of Science Service (DSS) collaborating with International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA), Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), organized the seminar “Recycled Food Packaging: Scientific Advances and Regulatory Development” on September 26th, 2019 at Holiday Inn Bangkok, Sukhumvit, Bangkok. The seminar aimed to provide the participants with the up-to-date information relating to plastic recycling, for instance, Thai and international regulations, the applications of recycled plastic for food packaging, and safety testing. In addition, the seminar brought together the experts, public sector and private sector to discuss and exchange on the challenge of developing Thai FDA regulations regarding to the use of recycled plastics in food packaging.