On 26 February 2016, EABC led by Mr. Rolf Dieter Daniel, EABC President paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Minister of Public Health Dr. Thawat Suntrajarn. Supported by Healthcare and Pharmaceutical and Food and Beverages Working Groups, EABC discussed various issues currently concerned the industries as well as prime focus on the EU-Thailand FTA.

Highlighted by the Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Working Group, the FTA will enhance liberalization which will support the government direction of Medical Hub Super Cluster, therefore, EABC highlighted its support for the renegotiation and further collaboration and industry dialogues in term of regulatory process efficiency, access to medicines and sustainable healthcare financing. Main discussion issues included pharmaceutical registration process and draft Drug Bill. In this regard, EABC welcomed an initiative of the e-Submission Project which would increase access to medicine and urged a removal of a request of price disclosure for patented medicines to be in accordane with international standards. For food and beverage sector, EABC encouraged a reconsideration of the  Notification of Alcoholic Beverages Control as it has no evidence affirming the measure would help reducing alcohol consumption; instead, it created barrier to international trade. The Minister of Public Health expressed appreciation to the EABC provided inputs and interests in further collaboration with the EABC in policy advocacy attempts.