October 24, 2005

Thai government urged to control powdered chicken imports
 

Thailand's Fishmeal Manufacturers Association (FMA) has urged the government to promote locally-produced fishmeal for animal feed, as a replacement for powdered chicken imports which the association considered at risk of bird flu.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has already hit several Asian countries in renewed outbreaks recently, including Thailand.

Thailand imported about 5,000 tonnes of powdered chicken each month as a raw material in making animal feed, FMA said.

FMA added that such imports were at risk of being contaminated with bird flu, especially if they came from countries already affected by the disease.

Besides calling on the government to impose tighter controls on powdered chicken imports, the association also urged a temporary ban on all such products from bird flu-hit countries. Alternatively, a certificate on the products' disease-free status should be required.