July 30, 2026
China seeks market access for frozen and cooked poultry exports to Thailand as risk assessment gets under way
Thailand's Livestock Development Department has confirmed no import approval has been granted, with the process still at an early stage of scientific evaluation covering avian influenza, residues and product safety standards.
China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) has formally requested market access to export frozen poultry meat, cooked poultry products and poultry by-products including chicken liver and goose liver to Thailand, prompting Thailand's Livestock Development Department to clarify that no import authorisation has been granted and that the process remains at the initial stage of risk assessment.
The department said it received the GACC market access request on 27 January 2026, which it described as a standard procedure under World Trade Organisation frameworks. Scientific data is currently being gathered to conduct a risk assessment across the full poultry production chain, covering animal disease risks including avian influenza, chemical residues and product safety standards. No timeline for a decision has been indicated.
The request has drawn attention given Thailand's position as one of Asia's largest poultry exporters. In 2025, Thailand produced approximately 3.82 million tonnes of poultry meat and products annually, exporting around 1.34 million tonnes of chilled, frozen and cooked poultry products worth more than THB168 billion (US$4.9 billion). Thailand's poultry industry spans the full supply chain from contract farmers, hatcheries and feed mills through to slaughter, processing and export operations.
Industry observers said a potential market opening could affect price competition, production costs and margins for Thai operators, while consumers could benefit from lower retail prices. The development also reflects broader competitive pressure from Chinese goods across multiple Thai industries, at a time when Thailand is navigating an increasingly complex trade relationship with China.
