February 14, 2013

Thailand lifts ban on EU beef imports

In 2006, Thailand relaxed its measure, but it kept a ban in place on beef and beef products coming from a number of EU member states (UK, Portugal, France, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Finland and Poland). "The EU welcomes the recent notification from Thailand on amended import conditions related to BSE, which should now facilitate exports of bovine products from the EU," DG Trade said, on February 12.

In the same statement, the Commission called on the Thai authorities to bring the other remaining trade disruptive import conditions on animals and animal products in line with international standards. Thai legislation continues to require a bilateral agreement of accreditation of establishments (including an on-site assessment) for imports of animals and animal products. This process remains unchanged and is considered by the Commission as overly burdensome, costly, unnecessarily lengthy, non-transparent and not in line with international standards.

"Thailand needs to bring its accreditation process for foreign meat establishments now also in line with its international obligations so that real trade could take place," the Commission said. It pledged to continue working with the Thai authorities on outstanding barriers "in order to resolve them in a practical way and on a permanent basis".