Effective from January 2026, Thailand will require “burn-free” certification for all corn imports and expand WTO quotas to one million tonnes.

The Thai government has officially enforced a pioneering trade mandate requiring all imported animal-feed corn to be certified “burn-free.”

The move, effective from 1 January 2026, is a cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to tackle transboundary PM2.5 pollution and align its agricultural supply chain with global environmental standards.

As reported by Thansettakij journalist Chatchayaporn Phongam, the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) has released four comprehensive regulations designed to “green” the nation’s imports.

Under the new Ministry of Commerce notification, corn destined for animal feed must be sourced exclusively from farms that do not employ agricultural burning in their cultivation processes.

Enforcing Environmental Transparency

The Director-General of the DFT, Arada Fuangtong, confirmed that the new laws add a critical environmental dimension to Thailand’s commerce.

To maintain trade fluidity, the Ministry has introduced a flexible yet rigorous verification system.

Importers may provide self-certification detailing the specific planting locations and yields or submit official documentation issued by the exporting country’s competent authorities or accredited international institutions.

To ensure accountability, importers are legally required to maintain all traceability records for a minimum of five years, allowing for retrospective audits by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

A Strategic Shift in

Quotas Beyond environmental mandates, the government has overhauled its import quotas to better balance industrial demand with the protection of local farmers.

Following a Cabinet resolution, the annual WTO import quota for corn has been dramatically expanded from a mere 54,700 tonnes to one million tonnes.

Crucially, the market has been liberalised, allowing private importers to access the quota alongside the state-run Public Warehouse Organisation.

Furthermore, while corn from ASEAN member states remains duty-free under the ATIGA agreement, Chatchayaporn reports that the import window for general traders has been shortened to a five-month period (1 February – 30 June).