Spain has taken steps to ban the importation of frozen shrimp and seafood products from Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) as the Thailand-based agribusiness firm is currently embroiled in a forced labour scandal.  

Tritaporn Khomapat, the director of the Office of Agricultural Affairs in Brussels, Belgium, has informed Niwat Sutemechaikul, the director-general of the Thai Fisheries Department, that several supermarkets in Europe and the US had ceased stocking CPF's frozen shrimp and other seafood products. Among the major chains, which have refused CPF products, are Carrefour (France), Aldi (Germany), Delhaize and Colryte Colruyt (Belgium), Mercadona (Spain), ICA (Norway) and Walmart (US).

Thailand's ambassador in Madrid, Spain, also reported that Alcampo supermarket, an affiliate of France's Auchan, had stopped placing orders for all CPF products. In the meantime, a Spanish industry group has called for the removal of Thai canned tuna from the EU's proposed free-trade agreement with Thailand, a move which the latter opposed.

Despite the recent allegations over slavery in Thailand's fishing industry, UK-based Tesco, which has not stopped purchases of CPF products, will be sending a team to the country to inspect the company's production process. The team will also visit agencies, such as the Fisheries Department, said CPF's representative office in Madrid.

According to Chanintr Chalisarapong, the chairman of the Thai Tuna Industry Association, Thailand is being unfairly accused by Spain's private fishing industry and NGOs for ignoring the problem of slavery. He added that the local industry operates transparently and welcomes inspection by EU authorities.

CPF has submitted documents to Delhaize's new chief executive officer to clarify concerns.