Shrimp welfare and social responsibility are among the important criteria in the revised Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) code drafted to secure Thailand's lucrative shrimp export industry.

The new GAP, revised from the 2003 version by the Fisheries Department, aims to raise export standards and ensure shrimp meet freshness requirements demanded by foreign buyers in recent years, said Pradit Chonchuenchob, the director of the department.

Issues such as how to produce healthy shrimp with good welfare, environmentally sound farming, as well as no employment of either child or forced labour are fresh requests from importers that Thai farmers have to comply with.

He said currently more than 17,000 shrimp farms complied with international standards, basically the Code of Conduct of the Food and Agriculture, and the existing GAP. But farmers must work more to secure the future of an industry worth THB80 billion (US$2.4 billion) and overcome barriers raised by foreign importers, said Pradit.

Appropriate waste water treatment, no farming in mangrove areas and well-irrigated sites are among the 56 additional rules in the revised GAP, which took effect this year. The department will allow shrimp farms three years to adjust their operations to comply with the new GAP. Further revisions to cope with changing trade circumstances such as carbon emissions will be made in the standard.

The new GAP is a way to upgrade the Thai shrimp export industry to keep it ahead of rivals, notably Vietnam and Indonesia, said Varin Tanasomwang, director of the Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Bureau. Improving marine shrimp farms and producing more hygienic shrimp to meet global standards are essential elements in the second strategic plan for the Thai shrimp industry from 2010 to 2012.

Over the next three years, Thailand plans to increase shrimp production by at least 5% a year, with 525,000 tonnes in 2010, 551,000 tonnes in 2011, and 578,000 tonnes in 2012.

The plan also suggests Thai exporters balance markets and reduce dependence on any one by capping export volume to a single market at 45% of the total. At present, the US is the major importer of Thai shrimp and consumes 49-50% of all shipments from Thailand.