H.E. Mr. Kosit PanpiemrasDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry

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Message from

H.E. Mr. Kosit PanpiemrasDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry

n 2006, Thailand's GDP grew by 5 percent, despite the impact of the appreciation ofthe Thai Baht and the volatile crude oil prices. The economic expansion was fueledprimarily by export which totaled US$ 128 billion, with the agriculture and

manufacturing sectors being the key contributors. Greater market access and tradefacilitation have played an important part in this impressive growth, as Thailand has alreadyconcluded numerous free trade agreements and is negotiating other agreements that willexpand free and fair trade.

Thailand's macro fundamentals and fiscal policy remain sound. Inflation is currently around2 percent while external debt has fallen to 32 percent of GDP from 44 percent in 2005.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains strong and this is expected to continue throughout2007.

To promote sustainable growth, the Thai government is transforming the economy fromresource-based to knowledge-based one. It is nurturing specific sectors including bioindustry,to take the economy to the next level. Bioindustry interacts with the other established sectorsin Thailand, such as agriculture and food. Its development have a positive impact on theseindustries, thereby contributing both directly and indirectly to the nation's growth.As the Chairman of the National Biotechnology Policy Framework Committee, I am pleasedto report that we are making good progress. In particular, we are seeing the emergence anddevelopment of new businesses in the bioindustry, which was one of the goals set forth in theplan. Approximately 40 new biotech companies have been launched, of which a quarter arein the agri-biotech field.

The bioindustry, as a whole, is investing more in R&D. Foreign investment in this area hasalso grown. Within the last few years, companies such as Shisedo, Airproduct Asia and Alltechhave all established dedicated R&D operations in Thailand. Companies providing services inthe bioindustry have also increased in number, riding on the growth of the industry. Somenotable players include Health Concepts International Co. Ltd., Stem Cell for Life Co. Ltd.,Hemotrans Co. Ltd., Delphi Health Services Co. Ltd., Thai Nippon Vegetable Co. Ltd., andTÜV SÜD PSB (Thailand) Limited.

I would like to congratulate all the bioindustry companies the have invested in Thailand. Ibelieve we are moving in the right direction and I will continue to support the development ofbioindustry.

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Message BIO'07-08 10/18/07, 6:55 PM3

hailand is in the process of transforming itself into a self-sufficient knowledge-based economy. It is moving traditional sectors up the value chain and developingindustries that tap into new markets and new technologies. The bioindustry is one

such example. Besides creating new jobs, developing new capabilities and introducing newtechnologies to the local sector, the bioindustry is also helping to drive the development ofThailand's more established agriculture, food and healthcare sectors. Positive developmentsin the bioindustry, such as the development of a new diagnostic technique, can often beapplied to these more traditional industries.

The government knows that the bioindustry, like other knowledge-based sectors, is research-driven. To succeed, Thailand must invest in R&D and build up capabilities. Therefore, thegovernment has recently announced that it is increasing the country's R&D budget to 69billion Baht (around US$ 2,000 million) over the next 3 years, moving R&D spending to 0.5percent of the country's GDP. Furthermore, skilled and knowledgeable workers are critical tothe success of this sector. As such, Thailand will continue to focus on human resourcedevelopment to grow its pool of highly skilled knowledge workers. Initiatives are alreadyunderway to collaborate with international institutes and companies to train more people.The state-of-the-art R&D facility in Thailand Science Park now hosts 50 companies and4 National research centres. They are equipped with highly skilled human resources withinternational networks. We aim to be the biotech R&D hub in Asia and we need morepartnerships to make it happened.

The development of the bioindustry is of utmost importance as it plays a critical role insupporting Thailand's drive towards becoming a self-sufficiency economy. Biotechnology,especially when applied to agriculture, will help Thailand improve productivity and creategreater value. Biotechnology is key tool in building Thailand's capacity in areas likeinnovation and productivity. It will also strengthen the country's competitiveness for thewell-being of its people.

The Thailand Biotech Guide plays an important role of providing relevant industryinformation to facilitate collaborations, thereby stimulating growth for this industry. It high-lights the strengths of the Thai bioindustry, makes available the relevant laws and regulationsas well as provides other information useful for making investment decisions and for seekingout R&D collaboration partners.

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Prof. Dr. Yongyuth YuthavongMinister of Science and Technology

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Message from

PROF. Dr. Yongyuth YuthavongMinister OF Science and Technology

Message BIO'07-08 10/18/07, 6:55 PM2

hailand's biotech industry has made significant progress over the past few years.Foreign biotech companies have come to Thailand to set up operations and we arealso seeing the emergence of local biotech firms. The BOI has classified biotech

industry as a high priority sector. As such, in order to support its growth and to signal itsstrategic importance to the economy, the BOI has recently formulated specific investmentpolicies and investment incentives to promote biotech industry.

The BOI is taking a pragmatic approach to promoting biotech industry-by adoptingstrategies and systems that have proven successful for other key sectors, such as theautomotive and ICT industries. Furthermore, the BOI's investment policies are fullytransparent, ensuring a long-term commitment.

Aside from the new biotech investment promotion policies, the BOI is also collaboratingwith other relevant government agencies and industry organizations to help localbiotech-industry flourish. It is working closely with the NSTDA, BIOTEC and TCELS onvarious fronts, from facilitating business to promoting R&D. This is the second year that wehave joined hands to tap each others-strengths, expertise and experience. Such closecooperation will result in more comprehensive and effective support for the biotech industry.We have successfully launched a number of initiatives, such as Thailand Biotech Guide as anexample. We have also organized joint missions to BIO 2006 and BIO 2007, the biggestbiotech industry exhibition in the USA. These exhibitions helped boost the visibility of Thaibiotech industry in the global arena and opened up business and research opportunities of theThai industry.

I hope that the second edition of the Thailand Business Guide will be a grater success and thatit will continue to provide valuable information on Thailand's biotech industry to interestedparties, both locally and internationally.

Mr. Satit ChanjavanakulThe Secretary General of the Board of Investment

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Message from

Mr. Satit ChanjavanakulThe Secretary General of the Board of Investment

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Message BIO'07-08 10/18/07, 6:55 PM4

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T H A I L A N D B I O T E C H G U I D E 2 0 0 7 / 2 0 0 8 11

he inaugural edition of the Thailand Biotech Guide was launched late last

year. It made its maiden appearance at a number of regional biotech

conferences where it was quickly snapped up by the participants. At BIO

2007, the world's largest biotech event, the guide was the main publication to

promote Thailand's bioindustry. In addition, we received numerous requests for the

guide directly from companies and other biotech organisations around the world.

All these are an indication of a healthy level of interest on the bioindustry in

Thailand among the international biotech community.

We hope to continue to contribute towards promoting a greater awareness of the

developments in Thailand's bioindustry within the international biotech arena. This

work is just beginning. Thus, we will strive to improve this publication further and

establish it as an indispensable information resource for the bioindustry in Thailand.

Lastly, we would like to thank our advertisers and industry partners for their support

and hope that they will continue to do so and provide us with invaluable feedback.

Please feel free to drop us an email at feedback@biotechthailand.com or contact me

directly if you have comments.

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PREFACE

The Editor

Marvin Ng, MBABusiness Development ConsultantGreener Grass Communications LLPEmail: marvin@greenergrass.com.sg

Preface OK 10/19/07, 6:16 PM11

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T H A I L A N D B I O T E C H G U I D E 2 0 0 7 / 2 0 0 8 21

Agri - Biotechnology in Thailand

INTRODUCTION

Thailandûs bioindustry, which comprises of the medical sector,the food sector and the agri-biotech sector, presentstremendous opportunities for biotechnology companies.

Thailandûs medical sector distinguishes itself as aworld-class healthcare hub. Established institutions such asthe Bangkok Hospital and the Bumrungrad InternationalHospital have won international acclaim and have longcatered to the needs of patients from around the world. Inmedical research, Thailand has focused its efforts and madeprogress in areas such as infectious diseases and stem cellresearch. In addition, given the countryûs lead position asan electronic manufacturing hub in the region, Thailand isa prime location for diagnostic and medical devicestechnology development and manufacturing activities.

Thailand has one of the worldûs most dynamic and diversefood industry, playing host to about 10,000 local andforeign food-related manufacturing operations. The sectoremploys over 20 million people in 2003 and is also tightlylinked to its agricultural sector. In general, the sector ismoving towards higher value-added, functional foods andnutraceuticals. It is also developing a more robust valuechain that incorporates higher standards, better safety and

strong regulations.

Thailandûs agriculture industry contributes significantly tothe Thai economy. It is built on a robust foundation andhas great potential, providing employment to about 50% ofthe Thai labour force. Furthermore, with the application ofbiotechnology bringing greater productivity and value-addto the agriculture base, the agri-biotech sector will grow inimportance and provide tremendous benefits to the economyand people. Thus, this edition of the Thailand Biotech Guidewill focus on the development of agricultural biotechnologyin Thailand.

THAILANDûS AGRI-BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

Thailand is the world leader in the production and export ofmany agricultural products, including rice, cassava, sugarand rubber. It is the 14th largest agricultural and foodexporter1 in the world. The agriculture industry istherefore an important contributor to its economy, accountingfor about 11% of Thailandûs gross national product in 2004.

However, Thailandûs agriculture industry faces challenges.The growth of the industry is declining and a good portionof the labour force in the sector has the countryûs lowestper capita income. In addition, Thailandûs ability to exportagricultural commodities to the European and US marketsare at risk of being hampered by prospective anti-dumpingduties, technical barrier to trade (TBT) and SPS/food safetyrequirements.

The TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organizationspecifies that countries can take measures to protecthuman, animal and plant life or health or the environment.Similarly, SPS measures are considered by some to beimportant impediment to agricultural and food exports to

1Thailand is the 5th largest agricultural and food exporter in the world if all the European countries are considered as a single community

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the EU. The SPS Agreement requires the use of interna-tional standards as a basis for SPS measures. These have,in part, been driving Thailand to develop its capabilities inscience and technology to be able to substantiate her sharein the world market.

Also, Thailandûs exports are under threat from increasingcompetition from emerging economies including India,Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Thailand has beenworking hard to differentiate its products from its low costcompetitors by establishing an image as producers withhigh food safety standards. For Thailandûs agricultureindustry to overcome these challenges and remaincompetitive, it must tap upon technology to achieve greaterproductivity and higher quality in production - givingThailand an edge in the global agriculture market.

DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGYIN THAILANDûS AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

The mid-seventies saw the dawn of modern biotechnologywhich centered around genetic engineering and molecularbiology. Thailand was amongst the first countries inSoutheast Asia to utilize biotechnology to increaseagricultural productivity. Biotechnology tools and techniqueswere used to find ways to help farmers overcomethe many problems presented by plant diseases. Theapplication of the some of these in agriculture in Thailand isdescribed below:

Plant Transformation

Plant transformation is an essential technique used todevelop transgenic plants that exhibi t superiorcharacteristics, including resistance to diseases, insect pestsand abiotic stresses. An early application of this techniquein Thailandûs agricultural scene was the development oftransgenic tomato plants resistant to the tomato yellow leafcurl virus. The Plant Genetic Engineering Unit (PGEU)at Kasetsart University at Kampaensan campus wasestablished by the National Center for Genetic Engineeringand Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in collaboration with KasetsartUniversity. It has successfully created tomato plants that carriesthe coat protein gene of the tomato yellow leaf curl virus,

to help control this economically-damaging viral disease.The same approach was taken to develop transgenicpapaya and pepper that are resistant to the papaya ringspotvirus (PRSV) and the chili vein-banding mottle virusrespectively. Most of these transgenic plants are nowbeing tested in confined conditions in compliance withThailandûs bio-safety guidelines.

However, despite the successful development of the transgenicring spot virus resistant papaya and tomato yellow leaf curlvirus resistant tomato, further studies on environmentalsafety in the open field are needed to satisfy thederegulation requirements of the Department of Agriculture.On 3 April 2001, Thailandûs cabinet decided to restrict openfield trial of transgenic crops in the country. Therefore, allstudies of transgenic crops that are ready for field testshave been put on hold.

Marker-assisted Selection

Marker-assisted selection has great potential in breedingprograms for plants and animals. DNA-based technologieshave enabled the identification of DNA markers, which areassociated with nuclear loci that control economicallyimportant traits (quantitative trait loci, QTLs).

In Thailand, marker-assisted selection has been used inbreeding programs for tomatoes, to select for plantsshowing resistance to bacterial wilt as well as nematode,tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium race 2, late blight andpowdery mildew. Resistant lines are currently beingevaluated in multi-location fields by private companies. Thesame technique has also been used to breed plants that areresistant to downy mildew (which is one of the most

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T H A I L A N D B I O T E C H G U I D E 2 0 0 7 / 2 0 0 8 23

destructive diseases in maize in Thailand) as well asdevelop new rice varieties with desirable traits such astolerance to submergence, resistance to brown planthopper, good aroma and cooking quality profile.

Molecular genetic markers have also found directapplication and have greatly assisted selective breedingprograms of commercially important marine species inThailand. Species-specific markers found in several marinespecies are used for identification of correct broodstockand seed species, as well as for quality control ofcommercial trading of oyster, mud crab and abalone seed.A population-specific RAPD marker found in black tigershrimp from the Andaman Sea has been used to verifygrowth and survival performance among different blacktiger shrimp stocks in commercial culture settings.

KEY PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN THE AGRICULTUREINDUSTRY

To strengthen the countryûs agriculture industry, Thailandhas implemented a number of biotechnology initiatives thatleverage on the development of new technologies to helpdrive the countryûs agriculture sector forward. Some ofthese initiatives are described below.

Rice Biotechnology Program

Thailand is the worldûs leading exporter of rice, with salesreaching 7.5 million tons in 2005. Rice varieties inThailand have improved continuously, in terms of yield andquality. The first Rice Variety Contest was held in 1907,during the reign of King Rama V and was followed by the

first çAgriculture and Commercial Exhibitioné in 1910.Winning rice varieties in subsequent contests were of betterquality, indicating that farmers became more interested togrow good quality rice. The quality of Thai rice varietieswas recognized during the world rice contest held at Regina,Canada in 1933, in which Thailand won 11 awards,including the first, second and third prizes. Presently, thepremium quality rice, namely Khao Dawk Mali 105 or KDML105 (Thai fragrant or Thai Jasmine rice) is very popular inthe world market. Since 1959, the Department ofAgriculture has recommended that this variety be grown inevery region.

The KDML 105 has good cooking quality. In addition,cooked KDML 105 grains are soft, palatable and fragrant.However, this rice variety is susceptible to diseases, suchas blast and bacterial leaf blight, as well as being vulnerableto pests, such as the brown plant hopper. Furthermore,although KDML 105 is widely grown in rain-fed lowlandregions of Thailand, the cultivar is very intolerant ofsubmergence stress. The KDML 105 rice improvement projectwas thus initiated in 1996, by BIOTEC in collaboration withthe Kasetsart University and the Rice Research Institute.Using maker-selected selection, improved varieties that areresistant to submergence, diseases and pests, whileretaining the unique and desirable characteristics ofJasmine rice, have been developed.

Blast disease, caused by Pyricularia grisea is one of themost wide-spread and destructive rice diseases in Thailand,especially in high-quality rice cultivars, such as thearomatic çKhao-Hom Dawk-Malié. Attempts have been madeto breed higher levels of resistance to blast disease in Thairice. However, these efforts have been limited by the lackof insight and information on resistance genes, as well asthe complex genetic structure of the pathogen population.

Genetic analysis provides a powerful tool to identify usefulresistance genes in the host while, at the same time,analyzing the race composition of the pathogen population.Recent research activities at the Kasetsart University,Chiangmai University, Lampang Agricultural Research andTraining Center and BIOTEC have contributed towards thefundamental understanding of the interactions between riceand blast. These have used molecular genetic methods,

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such as DNA fingerprinting of blast isolates and mapping ofhost-resistance genes

With more in-depth understanding of host pathogeninteractions and using marker-assisted selection andbackcrossing, Thai researchers have transferred other traitsto KDML 105 for genetic improvement. Thailand alreadyhas KDML105 introgression lines with submergencetolerance, bacterial leaf blight resistance, leaf blastresistance, brown plant hopper resistance, drought and salttolerance. Future efforts will look into putting these traitstogether by gene pyramiding via marker-assisted selection.At present, KDML 105 lines with submergence toleranceplus bacterial leaf blight and brown plant hopper resistanceare being evaluated in the field.

Molecular markers and backcrossing are now routinely usedfor rice variety improvement in Thailand. In addition, screeningprotocols and facilities for phenotypic evaluation have beenset up. For instance, the screening methods and greenhouse facilities for salinity tolerance, blast and bacterial leaf

blight tolerance have already been established.

Thailand has joined the International Collaboration forSequencing the Rice Genome (ICSRG). The chromosome9 was selected as Thai researchers had previouslyconducted extensive works on the fine-scale genetic andphysical maps surrounding the submergence tolerance QTL,as well as the prospect of gene richness and the smallchromosome size. Joining ICSRG allowed Thai researchersto directly access the rest of the genome sequence madeavailable by the other collaborating members. To utilize thegenome sequence data, the rice gene discovery project wasstarted, as part of the Thailand Rice Genome InitiativeProgram (TRIP). The focus of this project is to link thephysical map and sequence information from Nipponbareto KDML 105. To enhance the product competitiveness ofThai rice in the world market, Thailand has set as toppriority, to improve the following characteristics of its riceproducts: cooking quality, aroma, nutritional values andresponse to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Shrimp Biotechnology Program

The Shrimp industry accounted for 0.8% of Thailandûs GDPin 2005. Figure 1. shows the value chain of Thai BlackTiger Shrimp (P. monodon) industry. Broodstock or matureshrimp are caught at sea by trawlers, as domesticatedstock is still being understudied with strong support fromthe government. Broodstock are bred, producing naupliiwhich are sold to nurseries. Black tiger shrimps areprocessed into 2 main product categories: raw form andvalue-added form, for instance, as cooked shrimp, as sushiebi, as breaded shrimp, etc. Food processing creates thehighest value-add within the value chain. Major exportmarkets for Thai shrimp are the USA and Japan. Theestimated local content is greater than 90%, with theremaining imported portion being made up of chemicalsand some feed ingredients. The labor force involved in theblack tiger shrimp cluster is estimated to be more than1 million people.

Figure 1

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Thailand has been the leader in cultivated shrimpproduction and it has gained a competitive advantage throughhigher farming productivity. However, competition is strongfrom low cost producers, as farming technology is easilytransferred. Other critical issues faced by the shrimpcluster can be summarized as follows:

1. Broodstock: quality and quantity2. Farming: disease prevention and control, management of chemical residues3. International trade negotiation

Domestication of P. monodon is critical to help overcomethe problems arising from the use of wild shrimp anddomesticated stocks. It also allows for the selection ofimportant traits, such as the fast-growing or disease-resistance strains in this species. Raising domesticatedspecific pathogen-free (SPF) P. monodon broodstock isone of the main activities of the Shrimp BiotechnologyProgram in Thailand. Under the program, fast-growing andSPF shrimps were selected from commercial grow-out ponds.They were reared for one year to become F0 pond-rearedbroodstock, which were then bred to produce F1 offspring.These F1 offspring were screened for White SpotSyndrome Virus (WSSV), Yellow Head Virus (YHV),Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoeitic NecrosisVirus (IHHNV), Penaeus monodon-type baculovirus (MBV),Hepatopancreas Parvo Virus (HPV) and Taura SyndromeVirus (TSV), before being reared for another year tobecome F1 broodstock. The subsequent F4 generation showssignificant improvements in health and growth rate overunselected shrimp from wild parents.

It has been demonstrated that P. monodon can besuccessfully bred in captivity. However, there is still roomfor further improvements, particularly in the understandingof the control of growth, reproduction and the immunesystem of the shrimp.

To gain further insight into molecular aspects governingreproductive processes and immune system of black tigerprawn for future functional genomic studies, a large-scaleexpressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing project wasundertaken. cDNA libraries were constructed from differenttissues, including the eyestalk, hepatopancreas, haematopoietic

tissue, haemocyte, lymphoid organ, and ovary of shrimpsreared under normal or stress conditions. The P. monodonEST database was established and is now available at http://pmonodon.biotec.or.th. The P. monodon EST sequenceswere also submitted to the NCBI dbEST. More ESTsequences will be obtained and added to the database asthe project progresses. Further development andimplementation of analytical tools are underway to improvethe P. monodon database. A large number of transcriptsshowing female-specific or preferential expression ofovaries of P. monodon have been identified. Theexpression profiles of genes and proteins contributingto testicular development are being studied. The fulllength cDNA of some functionally important transcripts(e.g. progestin receptor and neuroparsin) have already beenisolated and characterized. These transcripts can be usedas the responsive indicators for reproduction but theirinvolvement for ovarian and oocyte maturation and/ordifferentiation of sexes in P. monodon need to be furtherinvestigated.

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Shrimps have an efficient innate immune system to defendagainst invading foreign materials and this enables them tolive in an environment rich in bacteria and viruses.Research in Thailand has been directed towards theidentification and characterization of immune effectors, thedevelopment of assays to evaluate and monitor theimmune state of shrimp, and the select ion ofdisease-resistant shrimps.

Cassava and Starch Technology

Cassava is one of the most important commercial crops inThailand. At present, around 20 million tons of roots(approximately 10% of the global supply) are producedannually by farms located over a total area of 1 millionhectares, mainly in the north-eastern and central plains ofThailand. The starch content of the cassava root dependslargely on its variety characteristics.

The main aim of cassava variety improvement in Thailandis to enhance starch yield. Other selection criteria forvariety improvement include early harvest time, stakequality, root shape, white flesh and tolerance to pest anddiseases. Initially, little variety improvement was practicedas cassava was grown only in a limited area. As theplanting area and the economic importance of cassavaincreased, variety improvement became an obvious approachfor gaining greater economic returns from the crop.Improvements were achieved through conventionalhybridization. Nine improved varieties with highly desirablecharacteristics were released for industrial use

In the past, variety improvements have been constrained bythe limitations of the conventional breeding technologies.The Cassava Molecular Biotechnology Consortium was setup in 2002 to overcome some of these limitations.Consisting of 6 Thai universities, BIOTEC and the RayongField Crops Research Center of the Department ofAgriculture, the consortium aims to use advancedmolecular biology and plant biotechnology to developcassava clones that better satisfy the needs of the industry.The priority of the group is to gain complete understandingof the starch biosynthesis mechanism. The acquiredknowledge will then be applied to cassava improvementprograms for developing new cassava varieties, with high

starch yielding and desired starch properties. The researchfocuses on two important aspects of starch biosynthesis incassava; the sucrose partitioning pathway and thebiosynthesis of starch granules in the roots. To gain abetter understanding of the starch biosynthesis in cassava,identification and extensive expression analyses are beingcarried out at the molecular level, looking at the enzymesinvolved in the starch biosynthesis in different cassavacultivars with varying storage starch levels. Besides genesdirectly involved in starch biosynthesis, the researchers alsopay attention to those genes involved in sucrose transportand sucrose-to-starch conversion. Information obtained fromthe isolation and characterization of the genes involved inthese pathways could lead to a thorough understanding ofstarch biosynthesis in cassava.

BIOTEC and the Nara Research Institute of Science andTechnology in Japan are collaborating to establish acassava EST collection for transcription profiling of thecassava genes. The cassava cDNA chips for microarrayanalysis of the cassava transcriptome will be developed.As of July 2006, all 14 cassava cDNA libraries and nearly100,000 cassava ESTs have been completed. Based onthis technology, a broad spectrum of genes with manybeing novel, involved in the starch biosynthesis control canbe discovered from these studies.

The core research activities on cassava and starchutilization include characterization of cassava and starchproperties, improvement of cassava conversion process,development of modified starches and their application inindustrial products. Extensive work has been done toevaluate factors affecting cassava starch properties,which in turn are critical for the development of starch

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modification and application. The genetic and environmental(GXE) factors as well as the starch process such asapplication of sulfur dioxide, ozone and drying, can alter themolecular structure and functionality of cassava starches.Interestingly, the functionalities of cassava starch can beimproved for various applications by altering starchstructures through physical and chemical modifications.Small-particle cassava starch can be obtained from millingof acid-hydrolyzed starch and used to replace fat inoil-based products. The cold water solubility of cassavastarch can be achieved by the carboxymethylation of starchunder specific conditions. The extent of cassava utilizationis also greatly enhanced through the use of enzymatictechniques, yielding starch hydrolysate with varyingdegrees of hydrolysis. The hydrolysate can be used as acost-effective carbon feedstock to produce valuablechemicals such as fuel ethanol and lactic acid through thefermentation process.

Thai cassava products enter international trade in differentforms, including chips and starch. Chips are mainlyexported to the European Community, for use as acarbohydrate source in animal feed. Cassava starch haswider utilization both in food and non-food applications.Industrial utilization of cassava starch has now expandedfrom being primarily used in paper, textile and plywood

industries to the production of biofuel and biodegradablepolymers. There are 70 factories producing around 2million tons of starch per annum, or 5% of the global total(35 million tons) for all starches. About 55% of cassavastarch produced is used domestically, as native starch andstarch derivatives, while the rest are exported. For thedomestic market, the largest proportions of native starchgo to the industrial production of food flavor enhancers,such as monosodium glutamate, lactic acid and amino acidproduction for feed supplement, such as lysine.

Efficient production process, low production cost, and thedevelopment of value-added products are vital to the starchindustry and the associated farming sector. A program onstarch and cassava products was established to providesupport and funding for R&D. One of the project aims isto improve the processing efficiency of starch production,in particular to minimize water and energy consumption.Reducing water use lowers water cost and also minimizesthe cost of wastewater treatment, making the industry moreenvironmentally-friendly. Most of the starch factoriesproduce 200 tons starch/day and generate approximately4000 M3/day of wastewater. High rate anaerobic digestionhas been applied to treat wastewater. Through innovativeprocesses, the resultant organic waste is converted intobiogas that is used to substitute fuel oil for drying starch.

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Currently, the technology is well accepted and each factorycan save about $US 3,000 per day

Basic studies of cassava starch structure, as related to itsfunctions, also offer more opportunities for researchers todevelop industrial applications using cassava starch. TheCassava and Starch Technology Unit, a specialized BIOTEClaboratory established in 1995 at Kasetsart University, hasbeen investigating the physicochemical properties ofcassava. The unit is well equipped and provides regularservice and training on instrumental analysis of starchproperties to the private sector and government agencies.

Seed Industry Program

The seed industry is considered to be an essential drivingforce in the modernization of Thailandûs agriculture sector.The modernization is focused on greater value creation ofexisting agricultural commodities, where Thailand is alreadya world leader in production. This is achieved byincreasing the productivity and improving the income ofThai farmers. The use of good seedlings can substantiallyimprove productivity. For example, the use of openpollination in corn farming resulted in the productivity of750 kg/hectare, which is considerably less than the use ofhybrid corn technology which yields a 5 timesimprovement or more about 3750 kg/hectare. The increasein productivity will substantially improve the income offarmers who use seedlings for their production. On theother hand, farmers who produce seedlings will also benefitfinancially due to the value added to the seedlingproduction. This can be demonstrated by comparing thefarmers who produce tomato seedlings, generating a netincome of US $1,875 - $6,250 per hectare in 3 monthswith sugar cane or rice farmers, generating incomesranging from US $444 - $1,000 per hectare in 12 months.

Due to its favorable climate and fertile farmland, Thailand iscurrently the seed production and manufacturing base formany international seed conglomerates. In 2006, there wereover 100 local and foreign seed companies in operation,employing more than 28,000 families and contributing overUS$ 420 million (not including the local demand of overUS$ 300 million) to the Thai economy.

To move the seed industry to the next level, the governmentmust provide R&D support to help the industry createmore genetic varieties and brand names. The governmentshould also provide incentives and support to help theindustry leverage upon intellectual property, strengthen theresearch infrastructure, establish technical service andcertification bodies accredited according to the internationalstandards and to form government agencies, industry andacademic clusters, which foster collaboration and alliancebetween the three groups.

The strategic plan for the development of the seed industrywill focus on cucumber, chili, tomato and corn This isbecause of Thailandûs existing advantages in these areasdue to its access to germplasm, its access to varietyimprovement technologies, its production capability, itssizeable local market base and even larger export marketbase, and advancements in biotechnology R&D. BIOTEChas been active in setting up a collection of germplasm atvarious academic institutes. The germplasm collectionconsists of about 1,400 different corn genetic varieties,about 1,500 genetic varieties of chili, 619 genetic varietiesof cucumber and 163 genetic varieties of tomato.

The plan for the seed cluster development has been drawnup as follows:

1. Development of management systems and evaluationof germplasm.• BIOTEC has developed 4 management and evaluation centers for the germplasm of corn, chilli, tomato and cucumber, located in different parts of the country.• A consortium consisting of private companies for field trial has been formed.• There are a total of 4 consortia for field trial of which one can conduct field trial for commercialization.

2. Variety improvement using biotechnology• Technologies used for variety improvement include DNA marker, anther culture and immunology technology based on monoclonal antibody.• The DNA marker technology has been successfully used to develop disease resistance chili, male

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sterile tomato variety and hybrid viral resistance okra.

3. Development of diagnostic technology for detectingplant diseases and monitoring seed quality• The diagnostic technology developed is based onPCR and monoclonal antibodies.• Several diagnostic-based monoclonal antibodies have been developed for Geminivirus and Tospovirus.

4. Development of high quality seed production andmanufacturing processes

5. Development seed coating technology from naturalproducts

BIOTEC has earmarked about US$ 10 million to supportR&D in the seed cluster, to build infrastructure and todevelop qualified human resource to strengthen the seedindustry.

SUCCESS STORY - THE SHRIMP INDUSTRY

Since the early 90s, Thailand has led the world in theexport of aquacultured shrimp. Shrimp export ranks as oneof the top 10 exports from Thailand, generating more than$2 billion in yearly export earnings. These earnings areespecially important to the Thai economy, because they arebased largely on local inputs. Modern biotechnology playsan important role in the development of shrimp aquaculturethrough R&D in breeding, feed development and feedsupplements, disease control, quality assurance and wastetreatment and recovery. An important milestone in the

application of biotechnology in shrimp aquaculture has beenthe development of DNA probes for the rapid detection ofmajor shrimp pathogens. These probes are essential forthe development and monitoring of certified shrimpbroodstock. They are also critical tools for the preventionof shrimp diseases, which may cause disastrousproduction losses. More importantly, they present no healthrisk to the consumers. Local biotechnology research inthis area has led to the development of a wide range ofdiagnostic kits. Some examples include the Ezee Gene®

range of PCR diagnostic kits, which test for the majorshrimp viruses, such as WSSV, Infectious Hypodermal andHematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV), HepatopancreaticParvovirus (HPV) and Monodon Baculovirus (MBV). Thetools have contributed positively to the Thai shrimpindustry. For instance, the economic benefit of the DNAprobe for WSSV has been estimated to be almostUS$1 billion per year in 1996.

In China, WSSV resulted in a 77% drop in shrimp production,from approximately 155,000 metric tons in 1992 to 35,000metric tons in 1994. During that time, there were noreported incidences of WSSV infection in Thailand.However, work was being done in Thailand at MahidolUniversity, to investigate the biology of the virus, in orderto develop effective diagnostic probes. A majorinvestigation using DNA probe found that shrimp fry usedto stock shrimp ponds may have been the source of thevirus. The occurrence of WSSV infection in Thai shrimpfarms was first reported in late 1995. The research effortsled to the development of an effective prevention programthat included the use of DNA technology to screen stockingfry, so that WSSV positive batches could be rejected. Thisprevention scheme using DNA probe reduced the loss fromapproximately 170,000 metric tons or 77% of previousproduction to approximately 60,000 metric tons or 27% ofthe preceding year production.

WSSV infection is an international problem. Ecuador shrimpproduction decreased from 144,000 tons in 1998 to 95,000and 45,000 metric tons in 1999 and 2000, respectively.Despite the drastic reduction in shrimp productionelsewhere in the world particularly in South America andChina due to outbreaks of WSSV, the shrimp production inThailand rose to 280,000 metric tons in the year 2000,

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compared to 243,000 and 230,000 tons in 1998 and1999, respectively. The rise in the production in Thailandduring the time of WSSV infection can be attributed to theprevention scheme that was put in place. The success ofthis scheme is in turn credited to the effective application of

diagnostic kits to screen stocking fry for early detection ofthe infection before major outbreaks. Thus investment inresearch in this area by Thailand has yielded substantialreturns to the shrimp farmers and the Thai economy ingeneral.

Contributing to the Success of the Shrimp Industry - the Shrimp Biotechnology Business Unit

The success of the Thai shrimp industry can be attributed to its use of modern technologies and managementtechniques. One organisation that has contributed significantly in this area is the Shrimp Biotechnology BusinessUnit (SBBU), which was established by BIOTEC specifically to support the Thai shrimp industry. The SBBUcommercializes technologies and solutions that are developed by local research institutes and universities for theshrimp industry, such as diagnostic kits. It also supports the industry through its range of critical services includingtraining, contract research, consulting and laboratory services. Since it was set up in 1999, the SBBU’s extensiveexpertise in shrimp health management has been tapped upon by the local industry as well as foreign companiesand organizations from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Panama,Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Colombia.

Located within the Thailand Science Park (TSP), the SBBU has easy access to the excellent and comprehensiveresearch infrastructure within the park.† It is also in close proximity to related research institutes, companies anduniversities in the area, allowing for it to interact closely with the local research community.

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WAY FORWARD FOR THAILANDûS AGRICULTURALBIOTECHNOLOGY

With the National Biotechnology Policy Framework inplace, the Thai government foresees the potential forbiotechnology to contribute to the development of the country,particularly in the agriculture industry. The framework placesemphasis on applying core technologies, such as genomic,bioinformatics, and plant and animal breeding usingmolecular markers, to accelerate development in areaslike agriculture and food processing, medical care andenvironmental technologies.

The abundance of bio-resources in Thailand and its strongR&D infrastructure, particularly the Thailand Science Park,place the country in a good position to fully tap on thepotential of biotechnology. Within 5 years, Thailand willhave a Biopark located within the Thailand Science Park, tonurture new bio-businesses and promote partnershipsbetween bio-businesses and the local/international researchcommunity. Coupled with consistent efforts to improveareas like intellectual property management, human resourcedevelopment and bio-safety, the commercial value of localscientific research can be fully realized and bring maximum

benefits to the economy and society.

Moving ahead, Thailand must strive to become more openand create a more conducive research environment inareas such as transgenic crops. With its inherent naturaladvantages, its stable economy and its positive investmentclimate, Thailand offers unlimited opportunities forbiotechnology research.

For an overview of Thailandûs bio-industry landscape, pleaserefer to the Thailand Biotech Guide 2006/2007 or visitwww.biotechthailand.com

About the Authors

This article is contributed by Prof. Morakot Tanticharoen,Director and Dr. Ruud Valyasevi, Deputy Director ofNational Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,National Science and Technology Development Agency,Thailand.

The Thailand Science Park - Supporting the Biotechnology Industry

The Thailand Science Park (TSP) is a fully integrated R&D hub set up in 2002, to support innovation and R&Dactivities as well as the development of R&D manpower in Thailand. It houses the National Science and TechnologyDevelopment Agencyûs (NSTDA) headquarters as well as four national research centers, including the NationalCenter of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). The TSP is also home to 50 science and technologybased organisations including the biotechnology R&D operations of private companies such the Betagro ResearchCenter.†The TSP is located about 20 km from the Donmuang International Airport and is adjacent to major institutions,namely, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thammasat University (TU) and Sirindhorn International Instituteof Technology (SIIT). It is an ideal location for R&D operations because of its close proximity to majorbiotechnology research centers, its accessibility to skilled R&D personnel as well as the robust infrastructure andexcellent research facilities within the park.††The TSP has received strong support from the industry. Its first phase has been completed and is fully occupied.The next phase, called the Innovation Clusters 2 (INC2) occupies 127,000 sqm. It is expected to come on streamin 2009 and will be able to accommodate more than 200 science and technology based companies.

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New Incentives for the Biotech Industry

To promote and nurture the growth of the local biotechindustry, Thailandûs Board of Investment (BOI) introducednew incentives in February 2007 that are targetedspecifically at biotechnology companies. Qualifying firmsare exempted from import duty on machinery and canreceive up to 8 years of corporate tax exemption plus anadditional 5 years of 50% corporate tax break if they locatetheir facilities within science and technology parks.

To qualify for the new incentives, companies must becertified by the National Science and TechnologyDevelopment Agency or the Thailand Center of Excellencefor Life Sciences of Office of Knowledge Management and

Development to be using modern biotechnology to conductR&D and manufacturing activities in at least one of thefollowing areas:

• seed, plant and animal improvement• biopharmaceuticals e.g. drugs and therapeutic proteins• diagnostic kits and reagents for health, agriculture, food and environment applications• biomolecules and bioactive comp ounds such as enzymes and monoclonal antibodies

Details about new incentives can be found at the BOIwebsite at http://www.boi.go.th

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Perspectives on Functional Foods

INTRODUCTION

Hippocratesûs words: ùLet food be thy medicine andmedicine be thy foodû espoused almost 2500 years ago,cannot be any truer today. In Japanese and Chinesecultures, it is accepted that foods and medicine originatedfrom the same source, based on similar theories and use.(Weng & Chen 1996, Arai 2002).

Since the early 20th century, scientists have identified theessential nutrients and established nutritional standards, withthe objective of preventing nutritional deficiencies inpopulations. Recommended daily allowances (RDAs) orReference Nutrition Intakes (RNIs) are the estimatedaverage daily amounts of essential nutrients required to

meet the physiological needs of most healthy people.

There is a growing interest in the relationship between dietand disease. For example, there has been increasinginterest in the components in food other than nutrients. TheJapanese have a term for these food and food components,called çFOSHUé or çfoods for specified health usesé. FOSHUis a unique system that was introduced in 1991 in Japan,under the Nutrition Improvement Law and the worldûs thefirst functional foods health claim approval regulation forfinished products. Other terms used in place of çfunctionalfoodsé include çmedicinal foodsé, çnutraceuticalsé, çdesignerfoodsé and çpharmafoodsé.

There is currently still no universally-accepted definition of

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functional foods, although, it is generally understood thatfunctional foods are çfoods that by virtue of physiologicallyactive food components provide health benefits beyond basicnutrition.é (ùFunctional foods in Asia -- Current state andIssuesû - International Life Science Institution SoutheastAsia Region.). However, it remains that functional foods arenot a well-defined group of food products.

In the 1990s, the International Life Science Institute ofEurope developed a European Commission ConcertedAction project on functional foods - the Functional FoodScience in Europe (FUFOSE) consensus. The projectdocument proposes a working definition for functional foodswhich states that functional foods are not any form ofdietary supplement, pills or capsules but are foods orcomponent(s) of foods that:

(1) have beneficial effects on body functions beyondadequate nutritional effects;(2) are relevant to the improved state and health and

well being of the individual; and,(3) can reduce the risk of disease but not prevent

disease.

Functional foods are consumed as part of the normal foodconsumption pattern of the individual and are not dietarysupplements, pills or capsules. The functional foods wouldalso have demonstrated their effects to the satisfaction ofthe scientific community.

Functional foods can be a natural food with component(s)that have been enhanced through special growingconditions or a food, to which a component has beenadded to provide benefits e.g. the addition of probioticbacteria with proven health benefits to improve gut health.

Functional foods can be from both plant and animal sources,although at this point of time, there are more naturally-occurring health-enhancing substances of plant origin.Phytochemicals or biologically-active plant chemicals areknown for their role in health enhancement. (ADA, 1995,Howard and Kritchevsky, 1997).

Oat products are a known dietary source of cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber b-glucan. Soy is a high protein source

but also has cholesterol-lowering effects, as well as theisoflavones genistein and daidzein which are structurallysimilar to estrogenic steroids. The carotenoid lycopenefound in tomatoes is noted to have a role in loweringcancer risk. The health benefits from garlic are alsonumerous including anticarcinogenic, antibiotic, anti-hypertensive and cholesterol lowering. (Srivastava et al.,1995). In the Asian culture, edible mushrooms such asshiitake (Lentinus edodes) and others are said to have antitumor and anti cancer activities, as well as anti-viral andcholesterol-lowering effects.

Tea is recorded as a popular beverage as early as 2700 BCat the time of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. Thephytochemical, polyphenols in both green and black tea areacknowledged to possess anti-mutagenic, anti-diabetic,anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.The various ethnic groups in Asia have been usingtraditionally-functional products such as spices and herbsin their daily cooking as well as special foods to improvewell-being and health. Spices and herbs such as turmeric,ginger, fenugreek, cumin, saffron, galangal, mint and othersare commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisineto enhance the organoleptic and functional qualities of thefood.

The Chinese, Japanese and Koreans have also a variety ofherbs and spices included in their cuisine e.g. ginseng rootand wolfberry in soups and meat dishes and capsaicinfrom red peppers in the delectable Korean kimchi.

There are a number of physiologically-active components inanimal produce. Omega-3(n=3) fatty acids are a class ofpolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fish oils.

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Such n=3 fatty acids were observed in the 1970s to play arole in lowering the incidence of cardiovascular disease(Bang and Dyerberg, 1972). Dairy products such as milkand cheese are the best source of calcium and essentialnutrients for the prevention of osteoporosis. Fermenteddairy products, also known as probiotics, were defined asùlive microbial feed supplements which have beneficialeffects on the host animal by improving its intestinalmicrobial balance.û (Fuller, 1994)

REGULATORY ISSUES

The Third International Workshop on Functional Foods wasorganized by the International Life Sciences InstituteSoutheast Asia region and held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiain July 2006. The 38 participants from Southeast Asia,Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand gave anupdate of their countries functional food-related activities.

In Japan, as of June 2006, 589 food items have beenregistered under the FOSHU system. The labeling ofinformation for a balanced diet of foods with health claimsincluding reduction of disease risk claims is now possible.

In Korea, the Korea Food and Drug Administrationauthorizes pre-market approvals of health and functionalfoods, based on efficacy of ingredients and their safety. InChina, functional foods with health claims are approvedbased on the five main principles of traditional use, safety,functionality, quality control and scientific evidence. From1996 until 2005, the Ministry of Public Health hadapproved 7,457 products as functional foods related toimprovements in health and well being.

In Indonesia, the National Agency for Drug and FoodControl evaluates all scientific evidence on bioactivecompounds such as their physiology, beneficial effects andappropriate dosage of the products for the beneficialeffects, before approval is given. In the U.S., the Food andDrug Administration evaluates all functional food health claims.In 1990, the US Congress adopted the Nutrition Labelingand Education Act which encompasses the regulation ofhealth claims on foods.

Others countries are also looking into the regulatory mecha-nisms for functional foods.

SAFETY ISSUES

In Asia, most of the functional foods are foods have beenpart of the traditional diet and thus are considered as çtriedand testedé and presumed safe for consumption. However,recently a number of biologically-active compoundsconsidered and consumed as functional foods have shownto be carcinogenic at high concentrations e.g. allylthiocyanate

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(Ames et al., 1990). Thus, the concentration of the activecompounds in functional foods is an important factor in thequalification of the associated health claims. In the case ofsoy protein and its beneficial effects on cardiovasculardiseases for instance, the FDA has indicated in 1998 thatbased a daily level of 25g of soy protein, individual foodqualified to bear such claims must contain 6.25 g of soyprotein with a minimum of 12.5 mg of total isoflavones perserving. Therefore, claims and health benefits of functionalfoods must be based on sound scientific evidence(Clydesdale, 1992)

However, the complexity of foods, lifestyle, metabolic changesand the lack of disease biomarkers all point to the need foradditional research, to substantiate and validate functionalfoods health claims.

SUBSTANTIATING THE NUTRITION AND HEALTH CLAIMSOF FUNCTIONAL FOOD

The International Life Science Institute Southeast Asiafacilitated the consolidation of substantiation of claims forthe Asia region. This was done in accordance to the Food

and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World HealthOrganisation (WHO) Codex Health Claims format.

The institute also recommended that additional studies berequired for proper substantiation and that the followingguidelines are followed:

(1) studies should be conducted on whole functional foods that is in the form to be consumed rather than on extracted components;(2) foods with added functional ingredient(s) may not need to undergo individual studies provided they show bioequivalency to the primary study;(3) statements from recognized health authorities and accepted texts on nutrient function claims based on the definition by Codex health claims may be permitted;(4) scientific substantiation applications of other functional claims should be based on human observational or intervention studies and not on in vitro or animal studies; and that,(5) any disease-risk reduction would require additional data from randomized double-blind placebo controlled trials or if that is not possible, data from appropriately

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designed intervention studies may be accepted.

CONCLUSION

The growing economic interest in functional foods iscomplemented by the increase in their trade and marketing.There have been numerous international scientific debatesand discussions in the last decade, driving research infunctional foods in the US, Europe and Asia. The FAO andWHO are involved in the discussions and also in thecoordination of information and substantiation of healthclaims. A key area of consideration is communication -research findings of nutrition, safety and health must becommunicated clearly to all stakeholders such as scientists,journalists, the food industry, the regulators andadministrators and most importantly to the consumer.Communication can never be enough in this domain.

About the Author

Dr Sushila Chang-Krishnaswamy is the Director of the Schoolof Life Sciences and Chemical Technology & SeniorDirector of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. She is alsothe co-Vice President of the International Life SciencesInstitute SEA Region.

References

1. ADA 1995, Position of the American DietecticAssociation: Phytochemicals and Functional Foods.J.AmDiet,Assoc.95: 493-4962. Ames,B.N., Magaw,R and Gold,L.W.1990 Ranking

possible carcinogenic hazards Science 236:271-2813. Arai, S. h2002. Global view on functional foods: Asian

Perspective. Br J Nutr 88 (52): 139-1434. Bang, H.O. and Dyerberg, J. 1972. Plasma Lipids and

lipoproteins in Greenlandic west-coast Eskimos. Acta.Med.Scand.192: 85-945. Clydesdale, F.M. 1997.A Proposal for the establishment

of scientific criteria for health claims for functional foods.Nutr. Rev.55 (12): 413-4226. Fuller, R. 1994. History and development of probiotics

in çProbioticsé ed. R, Fuller pp1-8 Chapman and Hall , N.Y.7. Functional Foods in Asia - Current Status and Issues.

Monograph Series of the International Life SciencesInstitute Southeast Asia region.8. Guidelines for the Substantiation of Nutrition and Health

Claims for Foods (Functional Foods)-International LifeSciences Institute Southeast Asia Region ExpertConsultation on Functional Foods , December 5-6, 2005,Singapore.9. Howard, B.V. and Kritchevsky,D. 1997,Phytochemical

and cardiovascular disease- A statement for healthcareprofessionals from the American Heart Association.Circulation 95: 2591-259710. Srivastava, K.C., Bordin, A., and Verma, S.K. 1995.

Garlic (Allium sativum) for disease prevention. S. Afr. J. Sci91: 68-7211. Weng, W.J. and Chen.J.S. 1996, The eastern

perspective on functional foods based on traditionalChinese medicine. Nutra Rev. 54(110): 511-516

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Thailand Agribusiness & GMOs: Challenges in ProductResearch & Development, Trade and Protection.

Agriculture is the foundation of Thailandûs economic growth.Since the first National Social and Economic Developmentplan was implemented in 1961, successive governmentshave modernized Thailandís agriculture, contributing to theexpansion of agro-processing, food commodities andagribusiness. Those efforts have helped to make Thailandthe worldûs largest exporter of frozen shrimp, canned tunaand canned pineapple and an important player in theagribusiness. This has been further boosted through majorjoint ventures with transnational corporations, such asCharoen Phokphan and Monsanto.

The Thai government understands that introducing modernagricultural biotechnology is the most efficient way to

increase production and improve the countryûs comparativeadvantage in farming, thus making Thailand the çKitchenof the Worldé. However, the modernization of the Thaiagriculture sector faces various challenges. These includethe lack of long-term policies on agricultural biotechnology,the current ban on field trials of transgenic plants, the strictban on imported Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), thepolitical concerns arising from the strong opposition fromNGOs, the delay in enacting a proper bio-safety legislation,as well as fears that genetically-modified organisms(GMOs) will create huge changes in Thailandûs patterns ofagricultural production and consumption.

To support the growth and modernization of its agri-biotech

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business, promote the use of modern biotechnology andaddress concerns expressed by anti-GMOs NGOs, TheMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment recentlycompleted the draft Bio-safety Act, which is now pendingapproval by the Parliament. In 2001, the NGOs used thislack of national bio-safety law to press Cabinet to suspendfield-testing of all transgenic plants in Thailand and Cabinetsuccumbed to NGO pressure in April 2001.

1. Living Modified Organism (LMOs)

LMO refers to a GMO that is still alive, such as fresh fruit,vegetables or seeds that have been modified usingrecombinant DNA. Other LMOs include genetically-modifiedcrops, bacteria, animals, plant cuttings and tissue cultures.

1.1 What are the restrictions on importing LMOs?

The Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 and the 1999amendments have restricted importation of differentvarieties of LMOs into Thailand. Since 2001, 89 LMOs arebanned from importation into and transportation acrossThailand, except for research and development purposesgranted by the Director-General of Department of Agriculture.

Thailand does not allow import and production of anytransgenic plants for commercial purpose and field trials.There are two exceptions:-

• The Committee for International Economic Policy agreed to exempt the import restriction for commercial purpose of transgenic soy bean and maize. Most soy beans imported are from USA, Argentina and Brazil.

• Processed food containing GMOs can be produced, imported or commercialized in Thailand, subject to labeling requirements (Please refer to Section 3 below).

1.2 Which governmental agency controls the import ofLMOs in Thailand?

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) is the authority for theimportation of LMOs including transgenic seeds and plants.

1.3 Are field trials of LMOs authorized in Thailand?

Since 2002, all trials of LMOs must be contained inlaboratories or greenhouses and no longer in open fields.Also, greenhouse tests must comply with the laboratorybio-safety guidelines.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment wasmandated by the Cabinet on October 11, 2004 to draft thebio-safety legislation. The draft Bio-safety Act is pendingfinal approval and currently consists of 9 chapters and 108articles covering all substantial issues:-

- Advanced inform consent;- Case-by-case and step-by-step approach;- Risk-based regulation;- Precautionary principle: reject GM imports as a necessary means of protecting biological diversity and safety;- Socio-economic consideration;- Public participation and opinion;- Joint liability and redress.

2. Genetically Modified Food (GMF)

Products of the LMOs that are blended with food productsare considered as foods derived from genetically-modifiedplants or animals. For example, milled maize and soybeanderivatives used in many foods, non-foods and yeast-basedfoods such as beer and bread. Transgenic food plantproduct in Thai land include Bt cottonseed oi l ,genetically-engineered virus resistant papaya developed byBIOTEC and the Department of Agriculture (DoA)

2.1 What are the restrictions on the use and trade ofGMF in Thailand?

Products derived from LMOs or GMOs must be provensafe before they are permitted for use as foods or foodingredients. Food safety is under the jurisdiction of theFood and Drug Administration (FDA).

2.2 How is the food safety test applied to GMF andwho applies it?

The FDA is currently evaluating national guidelines for safety

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assessment of genetically-modified foods. These guidelinesfollow the internationally accepted concept of substantialequivalence.

In the assessment, factors that are analyzed by the FDAinclude:

• History of use of plant or animal in food production;• Safety of any new plant / animal used in food production;• Expression of new genetic material other than the intended change;• The levels of natural toxicants or anti-nutritional factors in the transgenic foods;• The nutritional status of the transgenic food;• Compositional analysis to compare with traditional source.

3. Labeling of Products containing GMOs

Identification of GM products through labeling anddocumentation is crucial for bio-safety, segregating themfrom conventional equivalents and giving consumers theright to choose. Labeling is one way to comply with the

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to which Thailand is amember. This requires countries to take measures toensure safe handling, packaging and transportation of LMOs.

The Ministry of Public Health labeling law for foodcontaining GMO materials/products entered into form onMay 11, 2003. The products covered are:

1. Soybeans2. Cooked soybean3. Roasted soybean4. Bottled or canned soybean or soybean contained in retort pouch5. Natto6. Miso7. Tofu or tofu fried in oil8. Frozen tofu, soybean gluten from tofu or its products9. Soybean milk10. Soybean flour11. Food containing product(s) from (1) to (10) as main ingredient12. Food containing soybean protein as main ingredient13. Food containing green soybean as main ingredient14. Food containing soybean sprout as main ingredient15. Corn16. Popcorn17. Frozen of chilled corn18. Bottled or canned corn or corn contained in heat-treated pouch19. Corn flour or cornstarch20. Snack foods deriving from corn as main ingredient21. Food containing product(s) from (15) to (20) as main ingredient22. Food containing corn grits as main ingredient.

If the product has one of the 22 listed products as the onlyprinciple ingredient, labeling will be required if the GMOcontent in that ingredient is 5 % or more of the finalproduct weight. In the case the product has any of the 22listed products as the first three principle ingredients,labeling will only be required if each ingredient constitutes5 % or more of the final product weight and the GMOcontent by weight in that ingredient is 5 % or more.

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The Ministry of Public Health implements the regulationenforcement on a post-marketing basis. This means thatproduct labeling by the producer or importer is voluntary.However, unlabelled products may be confiscated and theproducer/importer may be subject to the penalties.

4. Product Development and Protection using GeneTechnology

Thailand, like other developing countries, needs to formnetworks with other laboratories to facilitate technologytransfer and get access to genetic material important in theconstruction of genetic modification. The construction ofgenetically-modified organisms is usually intertwined withlicense fees and intellectual rights. For example, theconstruction of vitamin A-enriched rice involves more than70 licenses.

4.1 Patent protection - Patent Act B.E. 2522 (1979) asAmended by the Patent Act (No.2) B.E 2535 (1999)

The Patent Act does not allow for patents on plants oranimals. Patents for micro-organism are only granted if theorganisms are modified. It also excludes patents on plantvarieties, which are protected under the Plant VarietyProtection (see below). Methods for the production oftransgenic animals, plants and microorganisms can also bepatented as can the organisms themselves, as long as adiscernable new function or trait can be documented. Forexample, modified Bt gene, isolated strains, purified strainsetc.

4.2 Plant variety - Plant Variety Protection B.E. 2542(1999)

In Thailand, research on plant biotechnology and geneticengineering has focused on plant transformation, DNAfingerprinting and molecular diagnosis of plant diseases.The Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act protects conserversof local plant varieties, as well as owners of commercialplant varieties.

Any LMO which is a new plant variety can be protectedunder the PVP. According to Article 13 (2) of the PVP, anLMO may be registered as a new plant variety if it is safe

to human health and environment. Living modified plantscapable of registration shall therefore be assessed forpotential risks.

Compensation has to be paid for the use of local plantvarieties in the development of new commercializedvarieties and when materials from local plant varieties areextracted to gain ingredients for medicinal or otherproducts. There are other laws related to the protection ofspecific biological resources and in order to coordinatethem, the Government has passed a regulation of the Officeof the Prime Minister on Conservation and Use ofBiological Resources on January 17, 2000.

There are four types of plant varieties protected under thePVP:

• New plant variety

A new plant variety for instance one created by geneticmodification to modify a plantís genes and cells to find newhybridizes which are more productive than the parental willonly be granted protection if its biological safety is proven.If a new variety causes damage to community environmentor community health, its owner, by law, is liable forcompensation.

The new varieties shall meet the following criteria in orderto obtain registration: distinction, uniformity and stability.For protection purposes, new varieties should not becommercialized in or outside Thailand more than two monthsprior to the date of application.

The protection period varies according to the nature of

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plant. For annual crops the protection is 12 years; forperennial crops 17 years; and for trees, 27 years.

There are some exceptions to the exclusive rights grantedto applicants of new plant variety for research and farmerûsuses.

• Indigenous varieties

There are plant varieties developed by a community,which have never been registered as new varieties. Thecommunity has exclusive rights, after registration, and theaccess to those varieties needs approval and negotiation forthe benefit of sharing with the community. The protectionfollows the Convention on Biological Diversity guidelines.

• Traditional local varieties

Traditional local varieties are those originated in the countryin which they are widely used by farmers. They are neithernew, indigenous varieties, nor wild species.

• Wild plant species

Wild species are those that still remain under naturalecosystem and never been cultivated. Anybody who wantsto make commercial use of these varieties or their plantparts should seek approval from the relevant authority, thefees and benefit sharing should be negotiated and incomefrom the uses of the plants must be paid to the relevantauthority.

A minimum standard material transfer agreement ofmaterials transfer agreement (MTA) has been in use as amodel for different agencies to customize.

4.3 Trade Secret - Trade Secret Act B.E. 2545 (2002)

Patents provide protection for 20 years. In contrast, companyûstrade secrets can provide significant competitiveadvantages for an unlimited period, if adequately protected.Protected trade secrets include a wide range of technicalknow-how and information including:

• Computer software and hardware

• Manufacturing processes• Agribusiness and technology• Analytical equipment• Food and beverage formulations• Seed genetics• Product designs• Business plans• Financial information• Customer lists and client relationship databases• Semiconductor processing technology

A trade secret must meet the following conditions in orderto be protected under this Act:

• it must possess commercial value due to its confidentiality;• it must not be generally known by or made available to the public domain which deals with such matters regularly;• its lawful controller or owner must have taken appropriate measures to maintain its secrecy.

Information that is protected under Section 4 includesformulae or patterns, collected or assembled works,programs, means, techniques or processes. Moreover, theTrade Secret Act allows the applicant for a permit tomanufacture, import, export or sale of agricultural chemicalproducts with new chemical substance who needs to fileinformation supporting the permit; and if such information,either wholly or in part is trade secrets in the form oftesting result, or other information regarding its preparation,discovery or creation which has involved in a great deal ofeffort, to request the state agencies to maintain the tradesecrets, the state agencies concerned shall have the dutiesto maintain the trade secrets from being disclosed,deprived of or used in unfair trading activities.

5. International Obligations

Thailand is a member of the World Trade Organization(WTO) and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia andthe Pacific (NACA). Thailand is a party to the Conventionon Biological Diversity (CBD), but not to the BiosafetyProtocol. Thailand is also a party to the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

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and Flora (CITES). Thailand became a party of the CartagenaProtocol on Biosafety on February 8, 2006. All thosetreaties and legislations shall be considered when dealingor involving with LMOs, GMOs or GMFs in Thailand.

About the Author†Rouse & Co International provides a full range ofintellectual property services world-wide. We help managepatent portfolios and advise on strategies that will enablethe full potential of the patents to be realized. Fabrice Matteiis a partner and has been working in Thailand in the fieldsof patent and biotechnology for over a decade.

Responsibilities

Regulating imported GMO seed for planting

Grant permission to import LMOs in Thailand

Regulating and monitoring the use of GM food, including labeling

Supervising biosafety issues, responsible for drafting the Bio-safety

Act

to induce dynamics in research, development and application of

biotechnology in order to support technology development and

adoption in both public and private institutions

Responsible for the grant and protection of intellectual property

rights, patents, trade marks, plant varieties etc.

Control of import & export of goods.

Access, collect or use of genetic resources must be disclosed to

and considered by RFD, Biodiversity Committee before it is

approved by the RFDís General Director.

Appendix 1: Relevant Agencies & Responsibilities

Agency

Department of Agriculture (DOA),

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MOAC)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

Ministry of Public Heath (MOPH)

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)

National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC),

Ministry of Science and Technology

Ministry of Commerce, Department of Intellectual property

Royal Thai Customs

Royal Forest Department (RFD)

Forest Act B.E. 2484Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2503 amendedthe National Park Act B.E. 2507Plant Reservation Act B.E 2542 (1999Food Act B.E. 2522Fisheries Act B.E 2490Animal Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2525Animal Germs and Toxin Act B.E 2525Hazardous substances Act B.E 2535The Customs Act B.E. 2469Export and Import of Goods Act B.E. 2522Improvement and Conservation of National Environment Quality Act B.E 2535Science and Technology Development Act B.E 2534Official Information Act B.E 2540Trade Secrets Act B.E 2545the Forest Plantation Act B.E. 2535

Appendix 2: Other Legislations Related to LMOs, GMOs and GMFs

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Shiseido, the worldûs 4th largest cosmetics company, setup its Shiseido Southeast Asia Research Center inThailand in October 2006. The center, located in theThailand Science Park, was set up in collaboration with theNational Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.The center will explore the application of active ingredientsfrom Thai herbs for use as antioxidants and whiteningagents in cosmetics.

The Dynamotive Group of Canada and investors fromThailand set up Renewable Bio Energy (Thailand) Co.Ltd. in late 2006 to produce bio-oil from the Eucalyptusplant. The new factory is being built based on a newtechnology called fast pyrolysis which requires 400 tons ofraw materials to produce 300,000 litres of bio-oil per day.The production cost will be around US$ 21 per barrel. It

has been estimated that savings from this import substitutemay be as high as US$ 3,000 million a year. This projectalso entailed plans to invest in a 6 megawatt electrical plantwhich will supply electricity to the Energy GeneratingAuthority of Thailand.

The Betagro Group, one of Thailandûs top agribusinesscompanies, launched two new firms in late 2006 to tap onthe growing demand for animal-health products. Betagrocurrently produces a variety of feeds, additives and medicalsupplies for domestic and overseas markets. It is alsoproducing veterinary supplies for a number of companies.The two new firms, Anitech Total Solution Co. and ProtechAnimal Health Co., will distribute Betagroûs in-house productsas well as those of other Thai and foreign manufacturers.This latest development has placed Betagro in a strongposition as the market demand grows in the agriculturalsectors including the fish, shrimp and swine industries.

Theravitae announced in February 2007 that it will openAsiaûs first and the worldûs largest commercial stem celllaboratory in Thailand. To be located in Chonburi, east ofBangkok, the laboratory will conduct R&D as well assupply products and services to hospitals and researchinstitutes in Asia. These services include cell transplantationand stem cell banking. Although its current focus is oncardio diseases, the laboratory is expected to broaden itsR&D into the areas of renal diseases and diabetes. Theestablishment of the laboratory will help position Thailandas a hub for stem cell R&D in the Asia Pacific.

The Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciencesand the Special Programme for Research and Trainingin Tropical Diseases (TDR) of the World HealthOrganisation announced in early 2007 the establishmentthe International Clinical Research CollaborationCenter (ICRCC) in Thailand. The center will help manage and

Thailand Biotechnology Industry Highlights

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coordinate clinical research activities within Thailand, with afocus on developing drugs targeting tropical diseases andthose which will benefit the Thai population. Through thecenter, the TDR will help strengthen Thailandís capabilitiesin clinical research and bring trials in the country to worldclass standards.

A Chiang Mai University researcher has successfullyinvented the worldûs first antibody strip test for HIV/Aidspatients. The test kit, called CD4 Select, can be applied toblood analysis devices at hospitals without the use of anexpensive cytometer, thereby resulting in 50% cost savingsand faster results. The test strip will cost about US$ 10 andthe test will yield its results in just one hour, compared thefour hours required by tests done with a cytometer. Thispatented technology has been licensed to i+MED Laboratories,a Thai diagnostic test manufacturer that has been producingand distributing the kits since early 2007.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO)announced in April 2007 that it will start manufacturing aninfluenza vaccine with the support of a US$2 million grantfrom the World Health Organisation. The grant will help theGPO develop the necessary human resource and build upthe required manufacturing capabilities. The Thai governmentwill fund the cost of the US$ 45 million plant. Once inproduction, Thailand will provide WHO with 10 percent ofthe plantûs production.

The three-year effort of a group of researchers from theFaculty of Associated Medical Science at Chiang MaiUniversity has produced the world’s first test strip forthe rapid detection of Thalassaemia carriers. The testresults are available within a few minutes instead of thecurrent 3 or more hours. Trials using samples from theThalassaemia Research Centre at Mahidol University foundthat the strip has 100-per-cent sensitivity, 98.5-per-centspecificity and 99.07-per-cent accuracy. The technology hasbeen licensed to a private company, i+Med Laboratoriesand the strip has been made commercially available sincemid 2007. The new test is also cheaper, at US$ 3per set compared to regular tests which cost US$ 30 toUS$ 40.

About the Author

This article is contributed by the National Center forGenetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

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AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY(PUBLIC ORGANIZATION)2003/61 Phaholyothin RdLadyao, ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2579 7435Fax: (66) 2579 7235Email: veerasuda@arda.or.thWebsite: www.arda.or.th

BIOTECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE ASSOCIATIONRm 308, 3/F, Kasetsart University Alumni AssociationBldg. 50 Paholyothin Rd.Ladyao, ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2940 5264Website: www.thaibaa.org

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE3/F, The Center of Operation Training and ConveyingTechnology Bldg.ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2579 0151-7Email: itc@doa.go.thWebsite: www.doa.go.th

DEPARTMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY44/100 Nonthaburi 1 Rd.MuangNonthaburi 11000Tel: (66) 2547 4632Website: www.ipthailand.org

DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENTPayathai Rd.Bangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2653 4444Fax: (66) 2653 4925Email: foreign@dld.go.thWebsite: www.dld.go.th

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL SCIENCES88/7 Tiwanon Rd.MuangNonthaburi 11000Tel: (66) 2589 0022Website: www.dmsc.moph.go.th

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE SERVICE75/7 Rama VI Rd.RatchathewiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2201 7000Fax: (66) 2644 5698Website: www.dss.go.th

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THAILANDEXIM Bldg.1193 Paholyothin Rd.PhayathaiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2271 3700Fax: (66) 2271 3204Email: info@exim.go.thWebsite: www.exim.go.th

Useful address 2007-2008 24/10/07, 19:2167

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FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION88/24 Tiwanon Rd.MuangNonthaburi 11000Tel: (66) 2590 7000Website: www.fda.moph.go.th

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONOF THAILAND (FOSTAT)113 Thailand Science Park, Phaholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 6700 EXT 3119Fax: (66) 2564 6701Email: fostat@biotec.or.thWebsite: fostat.biotec.or.th

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OF THAILAND618 Nikommakkasan Rd.RatchthewiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2253 0561Fax: (66) 2253 4086Email: ieat@ieat.go.thWebsite: www.ieat.go.th

INDUSTRIAL PARK CENTER, KING MONGKUTûSUNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURIThe 4th Chemical Engineering Bldg.91 Suksawas 48 Rd. Bang Mod, Tung KruBangkok 10140Tel: (66) 2470 9719Fax: (66) 2452 3455Website: www.kmutt.ac.th/organization/Park/#Ind

INSTITUTE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUMENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (ISMED)99 Gym 1Thammasat University RangsitKlong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 4000Website: www.ismed.or.th

MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH UNIT,CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY254 Phayathai Rd. PahatumwanBangkok 10330Tel: (66) 2218 5279Fax: (66) 2254 7680Website: www.biotec.or.th/marine/

NATIONAL CENTER FOR GENETIC ENGINEERINGAND BIOTECHNOLOGY (BIOTEC)113 Thailand Science Park, Phaholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 6700Fax: (66) 2564 6701Website: www.biotec.or.th

NATIONAL FOOD INSTITUTE2008 Charansanitwong 40 Rd.Bang Yi Khan, Bang PhlatBangkok 10700Tel: (66) 2886 8088Fax: (66) 2886 8106-7Website: www.nfi.or.th

NATIONAL INNOVATION AGENCY73/1 Rama VI Rd.RajdheveeBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2644 6000Fax: (66) 2644 8444Email: info@nia.co.thWebsite: www.nia.or.th

NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENT AGENCY111 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 7000Fax: (66) 2564 7001-5Email: info@nstda.or.thWebsite: www.nstda.or.th

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OFFICE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISESPROMOTION (SMEs)17/F, TST Bldg.21 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd,ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2278 8800Fax: (66) 2273 8850Email: info@sme.go.thWebsite: www.sme.go.th

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OFTHAILAND196 Paholyothin Rd.ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2561 2445Website: www.nrct.net

PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH &MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION21/F, Paholyothin Place Bldg.408/51, Paholyothin Rd.Samsen Nai,PhayathaiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2619 0729-32Fax: (66) 2619 0728Email: info@prema.or.thWebsite: www.prema.or.th

PROTEIN SOCIETY OF THAILAND4/F, Rm 427, Chalermprakiat Bldg.Faculty of Science, Mahidol UniversityRama VI Rd.Bangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2201 5840Fax: (66) 2201 5843Email: proteinthai@gmail.comWebsite: http://cbag2.sc.mahidol.ac.th/protein

SERVICE CENTER FOR MEDICINAL PLANTINFORMATION447 Sriayudhya Rd.RatchathewiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2644 8677-91Fax: (66) 2354 4327Email: headpypi@mahidol.ac.thWebsite: www.medplant.mahidol.ac.th

SHRIMP BIOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESS UNIT (SBBU)BIOTEC Pilot Plant, Module 2117 Science Park, Paholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 6531Fax: (66) 2564 6602Email: info@shrimpbiotec.comWebsite: www.shrimpbiotec.com

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT CENTER (TMC)111 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 7000Fax: (66) 2564 7003Website: www.nstda.or.th

THAI SOCIETY FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY73/1 Rama VI Rd.RatchthewiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2644 8150Fax: (66) 2644 8150 EXT 406Email: tsb@biotec.or.thWebsite: tsb.biotec.or.th

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THAILAND BOARD OF INVESTMENT555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd.ChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2537 8111Fax: (66) 2537 8177Email: head@boi.go.thWebsite: www.boi.go.th

THAILAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR LIFESCIENCES (TCELS)22/F CMMU Bldg.69 Vibhavadi-Rangsit RoadSamsen Nai,PhayathaiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2644 5499Fax: (66) 2644 9538Website: www.tcels.or.th

THAILAND SCIENCE PARK (TSP)111 Thailand Science Park, Paholyothin Rd.Klong Nueng, Klong LuangPathumthani 12120Tel: (66) 2564 7222Fax: (66) 2564 7201Email: Tsp-mkt@tmc.nstda.or.thWebsite: www.sciencepark.or.th

THE ASIA & PACIFIC SEED ASSOCIATION7/F Institute of Food Research and ProductDevelopment Bldg.726, 731, Kasetsart UniversityChatuchakBangkok 10900Tel: (66) 2940 5464Fax: (66) 2940 5467Email: apsa@apsaseed.comWebsite: www.apsaseed.com

THE FEDERATION OF THAI INDUSTRIES4/F, Zone CQSNCC, New Ratchadapisek Rd.Klong ToeiBangkok 10110Tel: (66) 2345 1000Fax: (66) 2345 1296Email: information@off.fti.or.thWebsite: www.fti.or.th

THE GOVERNMENT PHARMACEUTICALORGANIZATION75/1 Rama VI Rd.RatchathewiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2354 8857Fax: (66) 2354 8858Email: intgpo@health2.mogh.go.thWebsite: www.gpo.or.th

THE THAILAND RESEARCH FUND (TRF)14/F, SM Tower979/17-21 Paholyothin Rd.Samsen Nai,PhayathaiBangkok 10400Tel: (66) 2298 0455-75Fax: (66) 2298 0455Email: callcenter@trf.or.thWebsite: www.trf.or.th

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