Former Deputy Prime Minister Warns of Legal Risks for Thai Basil Due to Plant Variety Protection

Key summary

Dr. Phol Prasop Suraswadi, former deputy prime minister and former secretary-general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, posted on Facebook on October 24, 2026, urging immediate action regarding the legal protection of basil varieties. He stated that without intervention, the common Thai dish 'kaprao' could become a legal issue ('kap-pang'). The post details three main local varieties—white, red, and wild basil—and notes that four new strains named 'Kaeo Juri 1-4' were developed by Kasetsart University and CP Ram. These strains are registered under the Plant Variety Protection Act B.E. 2542 (1999), granting copyright to the developers who can charge for commercial use or sue unauthorized users. Dr. Phol expressed support for academic breeding but criticized the enforcement of the law, citing risks where farmers might be sued by relatives or 'grey officials' seeking profit. He suggested renaming the registered strains from 'basil' to 'pao' and using different colored packaging to delay legal conflicts, warning the government, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, and CP to take the issue seriously.