Bird Flu Fears: 'Govt Is Lying About Crisis'

[george]

BIRD FLU FEARS: 'Govt is lying about crisis'

Newin orders plans to deal with epidemic amid claims 50m chickens have died or been culled; officials to register all farms

In the face of mounting concern over bird flu within the region, livestock officials from all over the country were ordered yesterday to urgently draft contingency plans to deal with poultry-disease epidemics.

Allegations of government lies and a cover-up continued, meanwhile, with a consumer group claiming more than 50 million chickens in Thailand have died or been slaughtered as the result of disease that might be bird flu.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob, who has insisted Thailand is free of bird flu, called the urgent meeting of chief livestock officials. He advised them that they should move to register all poultry farms in their areas within two weeks, collect samples for lab tests, and prevent the movement of sick chickens.

He told officials from all pro-vinces to write contingency plans for dealing with an epidemic in the poultry industry and submit them by Monday.

Newin said all chickens at infected farms would be culled and that operators of the affected farms would be paid Bt40 in compensation for each bird killed as part of the prevention plan.

Farms found to be free of disease should be certified, he ordered.

Newin expressed confidence that the entire prevention process could be in place within 30 days.

Viroj Na Bangchang, president of the Consumer Force Association of Thailand, yesterday accused the government of covering up the deaths of as many as 50 million chickens from a fowl disease that may have been bird flu.

The figure is close to an estimate by the Kasikorn Research Centre, the research arm of Kasikornbank, which said that at least 40 million chickens had died of diarrhoea or changes in the weather.

"Why is the government saying that it's not the bird flu? Tens of millions of chickens have died. They have to tell the truth," Viroj said.

He claimed large numbers of dead chickens had been quietly disposed of this month to avoid public panic.

"It may affect tourism and chicken exports. We have to be willing to accept that," he said. "The truth must be told. I don't think the government is telling the truth."

Viroj submitted a petition to the House committee on consumer protection yesterday calling for action over the mass deaths of chickens.

Senator Somkiat Onwimon said yesterday a cover-up of the mysterious disease had continued for two months and that almost 20 provinces had been affected.

He called on the government to make it clear what type of disease caused the latest mass deaths of local chickens.

The bird flu, or avian influenza, can affect humans and has killed at least a dozen people in Asia. Millions of chickens in South Korea, Vietnam and Japan have been slaughtered to contain the epidemic.

Thailand is the world's fourth largest chicken exporter, according to government figures.

The Agriculture Ministry, which says changes in the weather cause mass deaths of chickens at this time of year, said on Wednesday the recent deaths were caused by diarrhoea and bronchitis.

In a related development, a senior Japanese executive yesterday expressed confidence in the Thai government's animal control measures.

Masatoshi Ito, president of Ajinomoto Frozen Foods, a major importer of Thai chicken products, said in Lop Buri yesterday the company would continue imports from Thailand despite concern over the bird flu.

He said the Japanese government has closely monitored the bird-flu situation in some provinces of Japan.

Vasit Taepaisitphongse, chief operating officer of Betagro Group, said the company ordered all chickens in its contract farms in Nakhon Sawan culled last November. The farm operators would get compensation but the amount was not disclosed.

------------------

Herbal remedies being used to treat sick chicks

Small-time poultry raisers in Nakhon Phanom have used local wisdom to cure their sick chickens with a traditional herbal remedy.

Two local herbs - fa talai jone and krua khao hor - are being used to treat chickens suffering from respiratory problems due to changes in the weather, said Tuanjai Inkesa, owner of a small chicken farm in the northeastern province's Muang (city) district.

Feed mixed with greenish fluid from boiled herbs were given to the sick chickens, she said, and within three days they were well. Modern medicines can take five days or more to work, she added.

"Herbs are safer as there are no chemical contents," she said. "We also can save a lot of money as modern medicine is expensive."

Tuanjai said that she came up with the idea of treating sick chickens with the herbs last year after remembering that in the past the plants were used to treat ailing fighting cocks.

Several chicken raisers in Nakhon Phanom have begun using the herbal remedies on their birds, she said.

--The Nation 2004-01-16

[sanook]

There are"no terrorist in Thailand" so why not "no bird flu in Thailand?"

[LPCustom69]

Thailand must not lie about this. With SARS beginning to rear its ugly head again, tourism will probably suffer. If tourists find out that the government is covering up a situation, it will definitely suffer. Throw in new closing hours and restrictions, and Thailand slowly moves down the preferred destination list. It won't affect me, I just got back from two months there, I'm going back in about four months, but I feel that a lot of people are going to begin looking elsewhere.

[Aitit]

Any goverment controling the media must be lying.

So now it is saver to eat the thai shrimps than chicken?

Traditional herbs are better and quicker than modern medicine !!!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Do you all think that this bird 'flu is unique to Thailand ?

[plachon]

No, it's not unique to Thailand. It surfaced in Hong Kong several years ago and there the govt. took the decision to slaughter all the chickens, even though it was an expensive one, that then opened the doors for cheaper imports from abroad to come in to fill the void. This ironically was a fillip to the Thai poultry export market, which has rapidly expanded ever since, putting profits above all else. Without transparent reporting of the truth on this outbreak (of whatever), the long term damage to the poultry industry will be far worse than if the govt. came clean with no conflicting information. At the moment it is a mess. However, the local intensive fish/meat farming industry (prawn, swine, tilapia, poultry,etc) is basically unsustainable anyway, and many observers have long been expecting such an outcome.

[Guest chingy]

'Govt is lying about crisis'

I wouldn't say they are lying, nothing accord yet right, they say: no bird flu in the country (yet) if everything goes find, they say: i told you so, there's no bird flu, looks good for the Govt, if bird flu do hit thailand and some one actually die from it, they would say: yep the bird flu (JUST) arrive so becareful my citizen, (win win situation)

[Zendesigner]

they are not sick at all...

They are just committing suicide because they are so depressed....

their "bar-rooster" of 5 days old has told them he doesn't love them...

Now they are jumping of their sticks and falling to their death.

suicide NO?

[george]

Update:

No bird ’flu on Phuket – official

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Commercial Office has reassured consumers that no cases of avian ’flu or diarrhea have been reported on Phuket – although huge numbers of chickens elsewhere in Asia have been affected.

Archint Ongsakul, a commercial technician from the PPCO, told the Gazette today, “Phuket has no problem with this disease.”

A watchdog group, the Consumer Force Association of Thailand, was quoted by media today as saying that as many as 50 million birds may have died in Thailand from an unspecified poultry disease. The government has denied the reports.

K. Archint also said that Phuket prawns are free from the “red pox” – of an as-yet-undetermined origin – that has been affecting shrimp from farms in Phang Nga and neighboring provinces.

The price of prawns from Thai farms has fallen dramatically in recent weeks to around 90 baht a kilo because of oversupply in the international market stemming from caps on import levels in both the EU and the US, combined with increased regional competition.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra was yesterday reported as saying that, for economic reasons, consumers should choose shrimp in preference to chicken for feasts over the Chinese New Year festival, which is from January 21 to 23.

--Phuket Gazette 2004-01-17

[Aitit]

Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra was yesterday reported as saying that, for economic reasons, consumers should choose shrimp in preference to chicken for feasts over the Chinese New Year festival, which is from January 21 to 23.

--Phuket Gazette 2004-01-17

Hah ,hah ,hah- he should hear me laughing!!!

[george]

Update:

Thai official denies bird flu allegations by critics, farmers

BANGKOK: -- A Thai minister blasted the media and government critics Friday for spreading a "rumor" that millions of chickens had died from an alleged outbreak of bird flu, which has ravaged poultry farms elsewhere in Asia.

"Irresponsible media and some groups of people are trying to spread this rumor," Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob told reporters Friday, repeating a government claim that "there is no bird flu here."

Allegations that the epidemic was whipping through Thai poultry farms had caused stocks in local chicken exporters to dip, he said, without elaborating.

Thailand is the world's fourth largest chicken exporter, according to government figures. It shipped out 500,000 tons of chicken worth 52 billion baht (US$1.3 billion) in 2003, and has set a target of about 600,000 tons for this year.

Farmers' groups claim millions of Thai chickens have died in the past month from the mysterious ailment that has struck Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, and may threaten humans.

On Thursday, the president of the Consumer Force Association of Thailand, Viroj Na Bangchang, also criticized the government for "saying that it's not the bird flu, but poultry farmers say it is."

At a ministry press conference, Newin said that since November, authorities have discovered 29,746 sick chickens, and killed 847,077 in five provinces.

Yukol Limlamthong, director general of the ministry's Department of Livestock Development, told the conference that fowl cholera and infectious bronchitis were the main culprits.

"Because the weather changed quickly this year, the chickens became weaker," Yukol said. "Rather than just fowl cholera alone, with infectious bronchitis as well, there are now two forces in the picture. So there may be an abnormally high number of deaths."

Newin said earlier that large-scale poultry deaths were common. Officials were burning and burying the dead chickens.

He said he had ordered the Livestock Department to conduct bird flu spot checks on farms nationwide. Those cleared would be certified free of the disease.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of the Ministry of National Development announced said in a statement that "in view of the fowl cholera outbreaks in Thailand, AVA is taking precautionary measures to protect the local animal industry."

"To prevent the disease from entering Singapore, AVA has suspended imports of all live birds, day-old chicks, whole frozen poultry and poultry officials from Thailand," the statement, distributed at the conference by the ministry, said.

"We can't engineer any sort of cover-up abroad, as they're the importers and inspectors...," Newin said. "The Agriculture Ministry can't control the EU, Japan, and other importing nations. This is the guarantee that the information we've released stands on information and truth."

--AP 2004-01-17

[maxbkkguy]

Newin rejects foreign testing

Findings of local labs fully reliable, he says

Kultida Samabuddhi

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry yesterday refused to send diseased chickens for forensic testing at international laboratories, saying its tests showing Thai poultry farms were free of bird flu was scientifically reliable.

"Thailand has successfully become the world's fourth largest poultry exporter because our scientists and veterinarians are the finest," said Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob yesterday.

"There is no need to ask foreign experts to verify our test results."

A poultry shop worker in Chinatown weighs two chickens before selling them yesterday. A sign in front of the shop says "chickens at this shop are free of all diseases". - JETJARAS NA RANONG

The ministry made its stance known as consumer groups stepped up calls for more government transparency regarding its information on what had caused the death of hundreds of thousands of poultry in the country.

Mr Newin said the Livestock Department had tested hundreds of dead chickens. The results showed the animals were killed by fowl cholera, not bird flu.

The disease that killed them could not be transmitted to humans, he added.

"Relevant agencies, such as the Office International des Epizooties, which is the world organisation for animal health, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and poultry importers, could come here to recheck the department's test results anytime," Mr Newin said.

The European Union's commissioner for health and consumer protection David Byrne, who is scheduled to inspect Thailand's food safety systems from Monday, would be invited to visit poultry farms if he wished, he said.

Mr Byrne's six-day tour includes a visit to the Livestock Department's lab in Pathum Thani province, a meeting with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and separate talks with the ministers in charge of agriculture and health.

The European Union is a key market for chicken products from Thailand.

Meanwhile, the WHO has denied reports that its officials would be in Thailand to inspect dead chickens.

Somchai Peerapakorn, acting WHO representative, said the organisation's task did not cover animal diseases.

WHO's health experts were visiting Vietnam at the request of its government to help fight an outbreak of bird flu affecting humans, he explained.

Livestock Department chief Yukol Limlaemthong said Thai poultry farms had been hit by fowl cholera and respiratory syndromes several times in the past, but the attack was more severe this time due to a combination of the two strains.

Most of the affected farms were small-scale egg farms with poor sanitary systems, he said.

Agricultural officials have been ordered to closely monitor about 100,000 poultry farms countrywide. They would help farmers get rid of infected chickens and improve farm sanitary systems.

He was confident the outbreak of fowl cholera would end within two weeks.

The ministry also has filed charges against the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) for disseminating false reports on the number of chickens killed by the outbreak.

The centre said in its newsletter on Thursday the outbreak had killed more than 40 million chickens nationwide.

Mr Newin said the centre's figure was exaggerated.

"The KRC's incorrect information has severely hurt the Thai poultry industry and the country's image. It is unacceptable that the nation's top research institution has made such a serious mistake," he said.

The centre issued a statement admitting that the 40-million figure was unverified but said the information came from the Jan 7 meeting of a working group on livestock and poultry products, which is under the ministry.

[maxbkkguy]

Newin rejects foreign testing

Findings of local labs fully reliable, he says

Kultida Samabuddhi

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry yesterday refused to send diseased chickens for forensic testing at international laboratories, saying its tests showing Thai poultry farms were free of bird flu was scientifically reliable.

"Thailand has successfully become the world's fourth largest poultry exporter because our scientists and veterinarians are the finest," said Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob yesterday.

"There is no need to ask foreign experts to verify our test results."

Haha!!! Can you believe that !!!

[Zendesigner]

they'll probably do an autopsie on them in a few years.....

Now it's nothing to worry about

[george]

Update:

BIRD DISEASE FALLOUT: Children pay the price for farm layoffs

Students pulled from class as sacked parents can no longer pay school fees

The shock waves of the bird disease epidemic, which has been plaguing chicken farms here recently, have reached young children in Chachoengsao province, leaving dozens of them in tears as their parents have to pull them out of school.

Teachers at two schools in the province, a major chicken-farming area, yesterday disclosed that 26 of their students had already quit school because the parents of these students no longer had jobs at chicken farms.

"Several children wept as they said goodbye to their friends and teachers," Saowanee Suwanrat, a teacher at Wat Mai Prawet, said, as most parents were preparing to return to the Northeast.

While the government has insisted that there is no such deadly bird-flu epidemic in Thailand as has been the case in some neighbouring countries, Thai chicken-farmers have faced one of the worst outbreaks of cholera and respiratory disease at their farms in recent years.

According to Saowanee, 11 of 140 students have withdrawn from her school. She said nearly half of students' parents were immigrants from other provinces and worked on chicken farms. She estimated that the number of withdrawn students would jump to at least 20.

"Tears run down teachers' faces too. Some of us gave financial assistance to the children," Saowanee said. After losing their jobs, some parents believed it was better to go back home, she said.

The teacher said other schools in the province faced the same scenario.

Wat Teparat School headmaster Sombat Wattanakul said he had received withdrawals from 15 students. All said that their parents had became unemployed and planned to return to their home provinces in the Northeast.

"I understand the parents' quandary, but I can't help being concerned about the children's feelings," Sombat said. The school had 370 students before the withdrawals.

Asked about the effects on his school, the director said he could foresee less financial contribution from parents.

"Most of money has come from chicken farms," Sombat said.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in his radio address that the World Health Organisation had confirmed there was no bird flu in Thailand. He urged all parties to stop exaggerating the number of chicken deaths.

"Exaggeration will damage the country's poultry exports and leave chicken-farmers and workers in the field to suffer," he said.

According to the Agriculture Ministry only 29,746 chickens have died of cholera and respiratory problems since November. Some 800,000 more have been culled to prevent the spread of disease.

Thaksin also assured people that the diseases that killed the chickens could not be passed on to humans.

"We have taken very strict measures in controlling the outbreak. We can control the situation. Please do not worry!" he said.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob will today meet relevant officials to discuss poultry exports. He said the country was receiving plenty of orders but the ban on moving chickens had caused an impasse.

--The Nation 2004-01-18

[george]

Follow up:

Bird flu toll rises

The World Health Organisation has raised the number of Vietnam's confirmed bird flu deaths to four, saying a five-year-old boy who died this month was found to have been carrying the virus.

The UN agency, which is helping Vietnam fight the fast-spreading disease, said the boy, from Nam Dinh province, died on January 8.

Nam Dinh is about 100kilometres south of the capital Hanoi.

Vietnam has a total of 18 suspected cases of bird flu in humans, all in the north.

The cases have raised fears of a new epidemic sweeping out of the region that saw an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome last year.

The virus has resulted in the deaths or slaughter of nearly two million chickens.

South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have also reported outbreaks of bird flu.

Thailand, one of the world's biggest chicken producers, says it has no bird flu but will inspect every poultry farm in the country to halt the spread of cholera among chickens.

--Agencies 2004-01-18

[diaw]

IMHO, the Thai approach to this problem, could cause serious long-term credibility issues for the entire Thai poultry industry...

Diaw...

[mrvietnam2001]

ALL chickens have been ordered killed in Vietnam.

Thaksin's not in denial. He's hoping others will follow his propaganda.

Nope.

Mr Vietnam

P.S. interesting to advise eating shrimp though. Just at a time when legal papers are flying back and forth between SE Asia and the US on that subject.

[george]

Update:

Prawn prices get a big boost

People shun poultry, turn to black tiger

The bird flu scare has boosted demand for black tiger prawns, as more consumers have begun avoiding poultry, Poj Aramwattananond, vice chairman of Black Tiger Prawn Raisers and Exporters Association, said yesterday.

He said higher demand has caused prices of black tiger prawns to increase substantially.

One kilogramme of prawns can now fetch 180-200 baht, compared to 140-160 baht per kilo last November.

The higher prices were also attributed to lower supply in the market, as many raisers had decided to cut back production in the wake of low prices last year.

He said the association would monitor the situation closely to ensure that prices do not plummet again when supplies peak during April-May.

Mr Poj pointed out the prawn industry had been badly affected by the anti-dumping measures of the United States, which is the country's No.1 prawn export market.

He said Thailand was trying to increase exports to Japan and the European Union.

--Bangkok Post 2004-01-18

[diaw]

I can concur with the price of THB 200 / kg... as observed at Mukdahan Ponpet Market, yesterday...

Diaw...

[plachon]

advising people to eat prawns (currently glutted in local market cos Europe and US have fears about their high antibiotic residues) instead of intensively farmed chickens (take your pick and fill of antibiotics, hormones, growth promoters and now a dreaded lurgy), is a nice one, showing his endearing concern for the beloved Thai public. But, will joe Public really want to change from a "cheap" alternative (what's chicken, around 70-80 baht/kg?) to prawns which cost over twice as much. Hardly comparable products. Like saying to a poor family, "don't buy Mekong and lao kao for your daughter's wedding, only Regency will do for the guests". Fixed budgets will mean only half as much Regency is purchased and the poor guests go home thirsty. Alternatively, they just go further into debt and end up losing the land and house to the sharks to pay for the wedding.

[Aitit]

How can you dare to say that there are still poor families- thought they have all been erased by now.

[george]

Update:

Thailand controls movement of chicken for fear of spread of cholera

BANGKOK -- The Thai government would draw up certain routes for the transport of chicken from farm to slaughterhouse in some provinces for fear of further spread of chicken cholera, the local press reported on Monday.

In eight provinces in central Thailand, chicken from farms could be transported to only 20 appointed slaughter houses through certain routes mapped out by the Agriculture Ministry.

"The aim is to contain the outbreak of fowl cholera and bronchitis and help poultry exporters, who need a large volume of chickens to meet increasing orders from overseas," the Bangkok Post newspaper quoted Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob as saying.

The ministry earlier banned chicken movement in a 50-kilometer radius after chicken cholera hit some 300 chicken farms in the central provinces.

The ban, however, was complained about by exporters for hurting sales. The latest rules on chicken movement were therefore believed to solve the problem while still controlling the spread of chicken cholera.

Livestock checkpoints would also be set up along the routes every 25 kilometers and 50 kilometers. Farmers transporting chicken were required to stop at the checkpoints for check and spraying for disinfectant.

While bird flu wreaked havoc on chicken farms in Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, Thailand was troubled by chicken cholera and bronchitis caused by the changing season.

Trying to curb the spread of the disease, authorities had slaughtered some 847,000 chicken, some of which were not affected. Poultry farmers would get 40-100 baht (0.95-2.38 US dollar) compensation for each chicken slaughtered from the authorities and the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association.

Being the world fourth largest poultry exporter, Thailand shipped out 500,000 tons of chicken in 2003 with a total value of 52 billion baht (1.3 billion US dollars) in 2003, and has set a target of about 600,000 tons for this year.

--Agencies 2004-01-19

[plachon]

Yeah, sure Khun Newin, those orders from overseas will be booming now you've installed such confidence by making sure no overseas scientists come in to verify the disease agent in this outbreak of "cholera". That's the way to go. Any one for fresh fowl. Hmmm, the thought of those undercooked "gai yang" with blood around the bone is so appealing just now. Can't figure out why?

[megashox]

I wonder which is worse - Bird Flu or Bird Cholera or Leaded Prawns!

[mrvietnam2001]

I wonder which is worse - Bird Flu or Bird Cholera or Leaded Prawns!

Don't forget mad cow.

The world is going to starve soon?

Mr Vietnam

[george]

Update:

Govt accused of incorrect handling of disease outbreak

BANGKOK: Senators and the opposition yesterday faulted the government's handling of the chicken epidemic and demanded concrete proof it was not the deadly avian flu that has killed millions of fowl in Asia.

Democrat party leader Banyat Bantadtan said the government had acted slowly to prevent the outbreak and failed to clear public confusion about the disease.

The government stood firm that the poultry had died from fowl cholera and infectious bronchitis.

Mr Banyat questioned Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's instruction that chicken be served at today's cabinet lunch in an attempt to ease public fears about bird flu.

``Let's see if having chicken can make the epidemic disappear and stop the chickens from dying,'' Mr Banyat said.

He said confusion arose especially after reports about the outbreak in Ayutthaya that had killed a large number of ostriches.

He said it remained to be seen if the chicken epidemic would prompt the opposition to lodge a no-confidence motion against the government.

A consumer protection group yesterday lodged a petition with senate committees asking them to scrutinise the government's handling of the outbreak.

Senator Malinee Sukvejchavornkij, chair of the committee on public health, demanded proof that the deadly disease was not bird flu. ``And it should be verified by the World Health Organisation too,'' she said.

Ms Malinee said withholding information would only undermine public confidence, health and the economy.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Somsak Thepsuthinsaid said the opposition did not understand the control measures the government was taking.

--Bangkok Post 2004-01-20

[george]

No flu here, says EU health chief

Thailand praised for food safety standards

BANGKOK: European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand was free from avian flu and lauded Bangkok's progress in food safety control.

``There absolutely is no evidence of the existence of bird flu in Thailand. I have my own officers working here in Bangkok and they are keeping a very close eye on the bird flu outbreak,'' said Mr Byrne after a brief meeting with Agriculture Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and his deputy Newin Chidchob.

Mr Byrne also praised Thai authorities for ``taking great care and vigilance in problems relating to poultry or other animal diseases''.

The EU did not import any poultry products from other countries in Asia affected by the bird flu outbreak.

``So far, Thailand is the only country in this region from which we import poultry and we continue to do so,'' said Mr Byrne.

Thailand is Asia's largest chicken exporter and a major source of EU poultry imports.

The EU was very concerned about the outbreak because the disease was a problem that had also emerged in the EU, Mr Byrne added.

``Last year, three of our member states, had an outbreak of avian flu and many birds had to be slaughtered. So we maintain great vigilance in Europe as well as in other parts of the world, including Asia, where we are keeping a very careful eye on the matter.''

On the issue of food safety, Mr Byrne said: ``Bangkok has made very great progress in recent times relating to food safety that will see fluent exports of poultry products and shrimp from Thailand to the EU.

``We appreciate this because it's [food safety system is] not only good for Thailand, but also good for consumers in the EU, who can have access to a variety of food, including good food from Thailand,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra urged the EU to reach a formal agreement with Bangkok that would result in mutual recognition of food standards, said government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair.

The prime minister's call was made yesterday morning during a one-hour meeting with Mr Byrne, who is on a six-day visit.

``Mr Byrne praised our food standards, so the prime minister proposed that EU officially recognise it by signing a mutual recognition agreement (MRA),'' Mr Jakrapob said.

Thailand's proposal for the MRA was made out of concern that EU food standards might pose a trade barrier.

The spokesman said Mr Thaksin assured the EU health commissioner that Thailand was also investing more in food science and technology.

Mr Jakrapob said Mr Byrne also expressed satisfaction with Thailand's shrimp exports, saying ``they are up to world standards''.

Mr Somsak, meanwhile, urged food importers and exporters to brace themselves for stricter food inspection measures.

--Bangkok Post 2004-01-20

[Aitit]

How to express confidence for a goverment that controlls the media?

IMHO Byrne was just told there is no flu, did he examine anything?

Would like to examine his finance.

This country would need an independant organisation to control food quality,

to set up measures for biological and organic food. What a dream.

How to know that they are really independant?

How to express satisfaction with Thailands shrimp exports?

Two weeks ago the EU didn't want them, so in that short time they produced good quality?

[george]

Follow up:

Thai PM tucks into chicken

"One million baht for anyone who dies from eating chicken"

BANGKOK: Thai authorities served up a smorgasbord of chicken dishes to cabinet ministers and hundreds of government officials today in a bid to ease public concern over an outbreak of fowl cholera and bronchitis.

Chefs from some of Bangkok's best-known restaurants produced a variety of poultry platters, soups and salads for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his 35 ministers.

The publicity event was hatched by the kingdom's chicken exporters, who also vowed to financially compensate anyone who died from consuming poultry products in Thailand.

"We are offering a chicken menu today to boost consumer confidence," said Anan Sirimongkolkasem, president of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association and the CEO of one of Thailand's biggest exporters, GFPT.

"The association will give compensation of one million baht for anyone who dies from eating chicken," he added.

The event at Government House attracted more than 100 journalists and photographers, who were also invited to dine on the chicken dishes.

Featuring on the menu were traditional Thai favourites including the famous spicy soup tom yam kai, kai pad kra pao (spicy fried chicken with basil) and chicken yakitori.

The outbreak of fowl cholera and bronchitis has caused the death or culling of over 850,000 chickens in Thailand and sparked fears of links with the bird flu epidemic which has hit several Asian countries in recent months.

--Agencies 2004-01-20