May 30, 2018

The development forces Thailand to choose between securing a US$4.2 billion trade deal and the health of consumers.

The USTR office accepted the request from National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to reconsider Thailand's trade benefit under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a tariff privilege that give an a competitive advantage to over 1,000 of Thai products in US market.

The US pork council wants Thai government to eliminate its restriction on US uncooked meat, allowing them to gain full access to the market.  Jim Heimerl, president of NPPC, cited an unfair treatment as the reason behind the council's petition.

"Thailand's treatment of US pork provides a clear basis for removing or limiting its GSP benefits," he commented.

US pork has been banned by Thailand due to the use of ractopamine, a feed addictive commonly used by US pork producers for muscle leanness and enhancing growth rate. The Thai government claims that there is not enough evidence to prove that the drug is safe for the consumers in the long term.

Dr. Chaiyapoom Bunchasak, associate professor from the Department of Animal Science Faculty of Agriculture at Kasetsart University, was recently quoted to have said  that the drug helps pigs to generate more protein and, therefore, rapidly enhances pig growth rates - as a result, helping farmers to lower the cost of operation and maximise productivity. 

Dr. Chaiyapoom added that Thailand has long held a zero tolerance policy on the use of beta-agonists (including ractopamine). Moreover, the drug is still restricted or banned in 160 countries such as members of the EU, China and Russia.

The effect of ractopamine residue in human is still unknown. However, the drug has been linked to several harmful impacts on farm animal like agitation, dyspnea, cardiac rates, stress, disabilities and death.

Ractopamine's effect can also pose great dangers to consumers with a history of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Prayad Thirawong, a lecturer at Kasetsart University and Animal Husbandry Expert, recently wrote an article in which he describes the US pig offal as "a ticking time bomb" for other countries. He noted that a higher concentration of ractopamine residue can be found in pig organs, such as the liver and the intestine. This induces a risk for consumers as internal organs and half-cooked meat are often use in Thai dishes.

Prayad added that pig parts, especially those considered to be "unwanted" in US market like head, giblets and offal will flood the Thai market, where food safety is the top priority.

He pointed that the Thai government and private sectors have been working together to ensure consumers of food safety. These parties have been working for 20 years to make consumers aware of the danger from beta-agonists, as well as eliminating the illegal use of the drugs throughout the product chain.

The US pressure against the pork ban is viewed by some as a unilateral attempt to dominate the local market with substandard products.

According to the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, a lift of the pork ban will cost inevitable damage to almost 200,000 pig farmers who raise 18 million pigs annually and impact related businesses such as feed producers, corn farmers and medical suppliers.

Prasit Luangmanee, a pig farmer from Roi Et Province, said that Thai pig market is facing a huge oversupply. The US pork will only pose more problems for local farmers who suffered from declining prices for 10 months.

In face of a problematic scenario, the Thai government has set up a working group to consider the market risk of permitting US pork and may have to wait for a year to make a decision.