BANGKOK : The decision by Singapore to allow the import of 16 consumable insects is an opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs to penetrate this market, the Department of International Trade Promotion said on Sunday.
This move is expected to boost Singapore’s food security as insects have high protein, while insect farming emits low amounts of greenhouse gas, the department said. The department said Thailand had the potential to export insects and their products. “The SFA’s approval for the import of consumable insects is a good opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs to penetrate Singapore’s market,” it said.
Regulations include documentation to prove that imported insects came from farms that meet food safety standards, the department said, adding that labels should be placed on packages to offer product information to consumers.According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, more than 1,900 species of insects are edible, such as caterpillars, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, cicadas, dragonflies, termites and mealybugs.