October 25, 2013

Singapore removes restriction on Thailand's frozen chicken

Singapore has finally lifted its nine-year ban on frozen chicken imports from Thailand, after the third meeting under the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER) in Singapore last week.

Thai Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan said that his country should enjoy more opportunities to increase shipments to Singapore as the city-state is one of the high-potential markets for chicken and many other products.

Singapore stopped buying frozen and processed chicken from Thailand because of the bird-flu outbreak here.

"Singapore now has high confidence to import frozen chicken from Thailand as it acknowledges our high sanitary standards. It will help facilitate more imports of frozen chicken from Thailand to increase trade," Niwatthumrong said.

Singapore is also considering allowing sale of frozen pork from Thailand.

Thailand has encouraged Singapore to invest in the swine feeding and processing business in the Kingdom, as it could use Thailand as a hub for production and export to third countries.