UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD

TAS 8202-2017

GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR

CRICKET FARM

National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

ICS 65.020.30 ISBN 974-403-420-3

 THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD

TAS 8202-2017

GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR

CRICKET FARM

National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
50 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Telephone (662) 561 2277 Facsimile (662) 561 3357

www.acfs.go.th

Published in the Royal Gazette, Announcement and General Publication, Volume 134
Special Section 293 D,

Dated 28 November B.E. 2560 (2017)

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Technical Committee on the Elaboration of Thai Agricultural Standard

for Good Agricultural Practices for Cricket Farm

1. Director General of Department of Livestock Development or an assignee Chairperson

Mr. Sorravis Thaneto, Deputy Director General

2. Representative of the Department of Agriculture Member

Mr. Charuwat Taekul
Mr. Artit Rukkasikorn
Ms. Krueawan Davong
Mr. Khanabhot Ghosinvigrome

3. Representative of the Department of Agricultural Extension Member

Ms. Orasa Saneevong Na Ayutthaya
Mr. Narit Kongsombun

4. Representative of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Member

Food Standards
Ms. Ing-orn Panyakit
Mr. Songkhla Chulakasian

5. Representative of the Bureau of Livestock Standards and Certification, Member

Department of Livestock Development
Mr. Ponkrit Ouyta
Ms. Anyarat Ratprakhon

6. Representative of the National Institute of Animal Health, Member

Department of Livestock Development
Mr. Nopporn Tohmee
Mr. Ekrin Khongkham

7. Representative of the Faculty of Agriculture, KhonKaen University Member

Associate Professor Yupa Hanboonsong
Assistant Professor Tassanee Jamjunya

8. Representative of the Faculty of Agriculture, Member

Chiang Mai University
Associate Professor Jiraporn Kulsarin
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9. Representative of the Department of Entomology, Member

Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University
Mrs. Chama Phankaew
Ms. Benjakhun Sangtongpraow

10. Representative of the National Farmers Council Member

Mr. Boonhong Yodhor

11. Mr. Pech Wongtam Member

Expert on Cricket Farming

12. Mr. Chatdanai Kongtas Member

Expert on Cricket Production

13. Mr.Thanaphum Muang-Ieam Member

Expert on Cricket Processing

14. Representative of the Office of Standard Development, Member and Secretary

National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards
Ms. Korwadee Phonkliang
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Cricket is a kind of insect that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) encourages world population to increase consumption due to the fact that it is a new
cheap source of protein and is locally available. According to the FAO’s estimation, the world
population will have increased by the year 2050 to 9 billion. Consequently, a shortage of food
and feed is likely to occur. For the time being, crickets are sold fresh, frozen, or processed in
forms of fried, roasted, canned, and powdered for further processing into products such as
cookies, cakes and macaroni. Those products have been exported, for instance, to the
European Union, China, the United States of America and Japan. Cricket is, therefore,
considered as another source of income for farmers after rice cultivation or during their free
time in the dry season. At present, Thailand has potential and skill for raising crickets at a
commercial scale. In order to increase consumer confidence on product safety derived from
crickets and to provide a guideline for cricket raising, the Agricultural Standards Committee,
therefore, deems it necessary to establish the Thai Agricultural Standard on Good Agricultural
Practices for Cricket Farm.

This standard is based on the following document:

Hanboonsong, Y., Jamjanya, T. and Durst, P.B. 2013. Six-Legged Livestock: Edible Insect
Farming, Collection and Marketing in Thailand. Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.
NOTIFICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATIVES
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD:
GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR CRICKET FARM
UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL STANDARDS ACT B.E. 2551 (2008)
----------------------------------------
Whereas the Agricultural Standards Committee deems it necessary to establish
an agricultural standard on Good Agricultural Practices for Cricket Farm as a voluntary
standard in accordance with the Agricultural Standards Act B.E. 2551 (2008) to promote such
agricultural commodity so as to meet its standard on quality and safety,

By virtue of Sections 5, 15 and 16 of the Agricultural Standards Act B.E. 2551

(2008) and the decision of the Agricultural Standards Committee at the Fourth Session dated
7 August B.E. 2560 (2017), the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives hereby issues this
Notification on the Establishment of Thai Agricultural Standard: Good Agricultural Practices
for Cricket Farm (TAS 8202-2017), as a voluntary standard, details of which are attached
herewith.

This notification shall come into force after the date of publication in the
Royal Gazette.

Notified on 15 September B.E. 2560 (2017)

General
(Chatchai Sarikulya)
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
 TAS 8202-2517

THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD

GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR CRICKET FARM

1. SCOPE

This Thai Agricultural Standard covers requirements of good agricultural practices for
cricket farm on farm components, feed, water, management of farm, animal health, and
environment, and record keeping. The aim is to produce crickets of good quality which are
safe for consumers.

2. DEFINITION

For the purpose of this standard :

2.1 Cricket means an insect in the order Othoptera of the family Gryllidae. This standard
covers the following crickets.
- Ching-rit Thong Dam with the scientific name of Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer
- Ching-rit Thong Dang with the scientific names of Teleogryllus mitratus
(Burmeister) (synonym T. testaceus (Walker)) and T. Occipitalis (Serville)
- Ching-rit Ban with the scientific name of Acheta domesticus (L.)

2.2 Cricket farm means a place used for commercial cricket raising which covers houses,
areas for feed storage and preparation , areas for carcass disposal, and area for garbage
collection, etc.

2.3 House means a building or a roofed structure for cricket raising enclosed by a suitable
material such as a net.

2.4 Pond means a containing structure for raising crickets such as a cement pond and a
box.

3. REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for Good Agricultural Practices for Cricket Farm are as in Table 1.

Table 1 Requirements

Items Requirements

1. Farm components
1.1 Location 1.1.1 A cricket farm shall be located in a suitable area
where there is no risk of hazardous contamination
affecting cricket and consumer safety.
TAS 8202-2517 2

Items Requirements

1.2 Farm design and layout

1.2.1 Farm size shall be sufficient and suitable for cricket
raising without causing any impact on cricket health and
environment. Cricket raising area shall be enclosed with a
suitable material.
1.2.2 Farm shall be well laid out and the areas shall be
appropriately and clearly separated to serve their objectives
such as raising area, feed, tools and equipment storage, area
for garbage collection, and residential area.
1.3 House
1.3.1 House shall be built with durable materials, easy to
clean and maintain and well ventilated. The materials
used shall not pose any harm to humans and crickets as
well as be able to prevent cricket pests from entering the
house.
1.3.2 Pond shall be made of durable materials, easy to
maintain and clean.
2. Farm management
2.1 Farm management manual 2.2.1 Farm management manual shall be available
containing details on important operation within farm
i.e. raising system, feed and water management, cleaning
and maintenance management, health management,
environmental management, and record forms.

2.2 Cricket management

2.2.1 Good quality cricket breeds shall be selected.
2.2.2 Pond shall be well prepared.

2.2.3 Materials used for cricket shelter shall be clean and

not be the disease harbourage.
2.2.4 Utensils and materials used for laying eggs shall be
clean and pose no risk of any contamination that will be
harmful to crickets and consumers.
2.2.5 Crickets harvesting for sale shall be well managed in
order to prevent any contamination that will be harmful to
consumers.
2.3 Feed and water management
2.3.1 Feed shall not be deteriorated nor pose any impact on
cricket health.
2.3.2 Source of water used on farm shall be clean and not
be contaminated with any hazardous substances.
 TAS 8202-2517

Items Requirements

2.3.3 Containers used for feeding shall be clean and

appropriate to the number and age of crickets.
2.3.4 Area for storing feed shall be able to prevent
contamination and deterioration.
2.4 Personnel
2.4.1 Personnel who is responsible forcricket shall have
knowledge and be properly trained on how to raise
crickets.
2.4.2 Personnel shall have good personal hygiene and receive
annual health check ups.
2.5 Cleaning and maintenance
2.5.1 Cricket houses and equipment shall be clean and
hygienic and be maintained in good condition, posing no
risk to both crickets and workers.
2.5.2 Chemicals, disinfectants and hazardous substances
registered with the Department of Livestock Development
shall be used. The instruction on the product label shall be
followed.
3. Animal health
3.1 Disease Prevention and Control 3.1.1 Preventive control and disinfection of equipment,
personnel and visitors prior to entry and exit shall be in
place. Record on visitor entry and exit shall be traceable.
3.1.2 In case of disease outbreak or doubt of any disease
incidence, Animal Epidemic Act and the recommendations
of the Department of Livestock Development shall be
followed.
3.2 Disease treatment
3.2.1 Disease treatment shall be under the supervision of
a veterinarian in accordance with the Veterinary
Professional Act B.E. 2545 and its amendments as well
as requirements of Thai Agricultural Standard on Code
of Practice for Control of the Use of Veterinary Drugs
(TAS 9032).
4. Environment
4.1 Garbage, trash and cricket feces shall be disposed of or
managed by an appropriate and hygienic methods to
prevent any impact to environment.
4.2 In case of discharging farm effluent to public water
sources, the effluent shall be treated prior to releasing
from farm.
TAS 8202-2517 4

Items Requirements

5. Recording
5.1 Data on important operations of farm management
affecting health, productivity and disease control shall be
recorded.
covering the following :
5.1.1 personnel management
5.1.2 production management such as cricket breed,
production lot, farm management, feed, and yield
5.1.3 disease control and treatments such as use of
veterinary drugs and chemicals
5.2 Record shall be kept for at least 3 years.