Authorities in Thailand are looking to expand the export of natural rubber gloves to China and India, following a ban on latex gloves in some U.S. states, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.
Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has established a task force to address the ban on natural rubber gloves in some U.S. states, which would pose negative impacts against Thailand-based glove manufacturers.
Nakorn Tangavirapat Governor Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) said the State of Illinois has already banned the use of latex gloves among food service workers, effective 1 January this year, citing potential allergic reactions in some workers and customers. This regulation will also apply to workers in the healthcare sector from 1 January next year.
The newly established task force by the MOAC will be working to promote the quality and safety of Thai-made natural rubber gloves while promoting the export to alternative markets, particularly China and India where demands remain strong.
Thailand exports around $738 million worth of rubber gloves to the United States, in the form of general-purpose gloves and for medical use. Thai rubber gloves make up 23 per cent of rubber gloves imported to the U.S., only after Malaysia.
