Organic, natural, chemical-free and GAP are different things

These words sound alike, but they describe different things. "Organic" and GAP are production standards with inspection behind them. "Natural" and "chemical-free" are everyday words that the Thai organic standard does not define. This article takes each in turn and says what it does and does not promise in Thailand.

Organic

Organic farming in Thailand follows TAS 9000 and is certified. It does not mean that nothing is ever applied to a crop. The standard allows only substances on its own list, or ones accepted by the authority or certification body, and it rules out synthetic fertilisers and genetically modified organisms.

"Natural" and "chemical-free"

TAS 9000 does not define either word as a labelling claim. It mentions natural substances only as one group of outside inputs that an organic farm may use in limited cases. In the Thai FDA labelling notification (No. 367, 2014), the word "natural" appears only for added colours and flavours, and the notification has no entry for "chemical-free". What it does ask is that label text, pictures and marks are not false or misleading in a significant way.

So these words, on their own, do not tell you how a crop was grown or whether anyone checked. A substance can be natural in origin and still not be allowed in organic farming. A label that says "no chemicals" is in the same position. Unless a standard and a certifier are named, the phrase is not tied to a checked system.

"Pesticide-safe" vegetables and GAP

Thai vegetables are often described as "pesticide-safe" (ผักปลอดภัยจากสารพิษ). A Department of Agricultural Extension handout defines this as vegetables from a system that does use chemical pesticides and chemical fertiliser. The harvest may or may not have residues. If it does, they must stay within the limits set by Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 163 of 1995. The same handout separates this from vegetables grown without any chemical pesticide, and from organic vegetables.

GAP stands for Good Agricultural Practices. The Thai standard is TAS 9001, which covers food crops such as vegetables, fruit, field crops, spices and herbs at farm level. It sets rules for how a farm is managed, including how chemicals are handled, rather than requiring that none are used. If pesticides are used, they must follow Department of Agriculture advice or the registered label, and use must stop before harvest for the interval shown on the label. Pesticides banned under the Hazardous Substances Act of 1992 may not be used. The farm keeps records of pesticide use. Where there is evidence or reason to suspect that use did not follow the advice, the produce is to be tested for residues.

Both GAP and organic standards can be shown with the Q mark, a Thai certification mark for farm products. The abbreviation shown with the mark names the kind of standard. "GAP" is used for good agricultural practice standards and "ORGANIC" for organic standards. The code under the mark identifies the certifying body, the standard and the certificate holder.

Hydroponic

Hydroponic describes a growing method, with roots in a nutrient solution or in an inert material to which nutrients are added. It is not a certification. Under TAS 9000, hydroponic growing is not allowed for organic crops, which must grow in a soil-based system.

In short

Organic is a certified system under TAS 9000, with a limited list of permitted substances.
"Natural" and "chemical-free" are not defined by the Thai organic standard, and the Thai FDA labelling notification asks only that labels are not misleading.
"Pesticide-safe" vegetables may be grown with chemicals, with residues kept within legal limits.
GAP (TAS 9001) manages how chemicals are used. Hydroponic is a growing method that the Thai organic standard does not allow.