February 22, 2006

Thailand freezes imports of chicken breeds from EU

Thailand will freeze imports of chicken breeds and other chicken products from the European Union (EU) to prevent a spread of avian flu, according to the Department of Livestock Development.

Imports of chicken breeds, live chickens and all other chicken products from France and Germany in particular, are to be halted for at least 90 days.

The order will be lifted after the two key European exporters informed the Thai government of certified measures to prevent the spread of the virus, department officials said.

Conversely, Thailand's chicken exports to Europe also plummeted upon bird flu concerns of the outbreak in Europe.

Bird flu has caused EU consumption of cooked chickens to fall at least 50 percent and the prices of exported Thai chickens were reduced to US$2,300 a tonne from US$2,700 a tonne.

Due to obligations under the World Organisation for Animal Health, Thailand is prevented from importing chicken breeds from countries with outbreaks of the disease.

It takes around 7-8 months for chicken breeds to give birth to chicks, according to Panya Chotithewan, Chairman of Saha Farm Co., some even need up to 15-16 months. The halt in imports could possibly lead to a disruption of the chicken consumption cycle, he said.

Mr. Panya added that Thai chicken consumption had also declined although a new bird flu outbreak had not occurred in the country. Local prices of live chickens have fallen from 34 baht/kg (US$0.86/kg) to 22 baht/kg (US$0.55/kg) in recent weeks.