February 9, 2007

Thailand's government urged to speed up shrimp talks with Australia

Thailand's shrimp industry is calling for the government to speed up negotiations with Australia over its new health and safety standard before it would be imposed on February 21.

Thai farmers fear the new rules would act as another obstacle for shrimp exports. Thailand is the largest supplier in the Australian market.

Australia has recently released a draft import risk analysis (IRA) paper on new standards to imposed on shrimp imports, which would require foreign shrimp products to obtain certification that they free from diseases.

Earlier, Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives said that it would set up an ad hoc working group to prepare information on Thai shrimp and farming standards for submission to Biosecurity Australia before the new rules are enacted later this month.

The new standards would hamper the industry's growth, Dr Surapol Pratuangtum, president of the Thai Marine Shrimp Farmers' Association, said.  Despite the free trade agreement between the two countries, Thai shrimp continues to face increasing trade restrictions, he added.