Coconut Farmers Demand FDA Explanation on Frozen Coconut Milk Imports
Over 300 coconut farmers from Prachuap Khiri Khan protested on July 7, demanding the FDA explain its approval of frozen coconut milk imports, which they claim are depressing domestic prices. The farmers have yet to receive written responses
Over 300 angry coconut farmers from Prachuap Khiri Khan stormed Bang Saphan District on July 7, 2025, demanding that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explain its approval of frozen coconut milk and coconut cream imports. Network leader Pongsak Bunrak and farmers arrived with sound-equipped pickup trucks to submit a letter to Bang Saphan District Chief Manit Vongjinda, requesting coordination with relevant agencies.
The farmers specifically called on the FDA to provide clarification about approvals for importing frozen coconut milk and ready-to-drink coconut cream, which they believe are major factors driving down domestic coconut prices. The coconut farmer network had previously submitted a request through the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Health Office on May 27, 2025, asking for import approval criteria, procedures, and historical import statistics for frozen and processed coconut milk from 2023-2025. However, they have yet to receive a written response. The provincial health office sent an urgent letter to the FDA on June 9, 2025, requesting factual clarification following complaints from affected coconut farmers.
Without an official response, the farmer network submitted a letter to the district chief requesting that FDA Secretary-General Supattra Bunserm visit the area by July 14, 2025, to directly address farmers on five key points: approval criteria for coconut milk imports; authorization standards for importers; why imported products don't clearly indicate raw material origin; impact calculations on domestic coconut quotas; and protection measures for Thai farmers.
The network reiterated seven earlier proposals submitted to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister and Commerce Minister on March 24, 2025: suspending all coconut and coconut product imports until large coconuts reach at least 18 baht per fruit and dried coconut reaches at least 35 baht per kilogram. They also called for releasing import data, establishing a national coconut committee with farmer representatives, converting imported coconut products to equivalent whole coconut units before approval, requiring clear raw material origin labels, and restricting processing outside AFTA and WTO frameworks. The network scheduled another gathering for July 14, 2025, at Bang Saphan District Hall to await responses.
