BATTLE OVER PUSH FOR US MEAT IMPORTS
Producers of chicken and pork have rushed to voice their concerns to the government in the face of US pressure for the kingdom to allow imports of these products as part of moves to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries.
After handing a letter to the Commerce Minister, the president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailandm Surachai Sutthitham, said the US imports could jeopardise food safety and hurt Thailand's agricultural supply chain. He cited the use of the substance ractopamine in US piggeries.
“We asks the government to insist on the prohibition of imported pork with ractopamine for the safety of consumers and to protect the country's agricultural economic stability,” Surachai said.
Prasert Anuchiracheeva, secretary-general of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, said: “US pressure on Thailand to import chicken meat from the US could increase the risk of bird flu Thailand, which has been free of an outbreak for more than 10 years.”
Bird flu is still a problem in the US, Prasert said.
The association urged the government to “consider this issue urgently and to not let the US to gain influence over Thai people's food safety and to not let US chicken imports hurt Thai farmers”, Prasert said.
