Thai Agriculture Minister Orders One-Week Review of CP Ram's Basil Patent Application Amid Public Concern

Key summary

On October 24, 2026, at Thammasat Field, Surayud Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, stated that he has ordered the Department of Agricultural Extension to urgently verify whether CP Ram's registration for protecting four new basil varieties complies with the law. The minister set a deadline of no more than one week for this review, acknowledging public anxiety regarding the potential impact on farming, sales, and consumption. He emphasized the need to protect the rights of farmers and local residents. The department previously conducted research on basil, and the review will examine the details of the registered plant varieties and related data. While CP Ram claims the four varieties are new developed strains, the minister noted that this information must be verified by relevant agencies. It remains unclear if existing basil varieties share characteristics with the new ones until the investigation concludes. The minister confirmed he would not allow the process to affect farmers' rights but did not specify an exact date for the results beyond the one-week timeframe.