Thai Shrimp Farmers Protest New Australian Import Rules

[george]

Thai shrimp farmers protest new Australian import rules

BANGKOK: -- A group of 50 shrimp farmers from southern Thailand submitted a letter to a representative of the Australian embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday protesting Canberra's new import rules.

A group led by Thai Marine Shrimp Farmers' Association president Dr. Surapol Pratuangtum requested that the Australian government re-consider its implementation of new import risk analysis (IRA) procedures to block shrimp imports from Thailand.

Australia recently released a draft import risk analysis (IRA) paper regarding new standards imposed on shrimp imports. It requires certifications to guarantee that Thai shrimp products are free from marine diseases.

Claiming that Thai shrimps contained five strains of virus, the measure provided that concerned agencies submit a confirmation of their enforcing corrective measures for the safety of consumers no later than 21 February before the analysis is approved and takes effect.

Based on the fact that free trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and Australia is now taking effect, Thai shrimp farmers said that the Australian measure is unfair for Thailand. In fact, the Thai side said, the measure is to protect their own approximately 100 shrimp farms. Moreover. the about 300,000 Thai shrimp farmers will be affected by this measure.

Meanwhile they urged the Thai government to negotiate and press for the Australian government.

Jaranthada Karnasuta, director-general of Thailand's Fisheries Department, said last week that a working group had already prepared information on Thai shrimp and farming standards and will submit the document to Australian agencies involved when they meet on February 15.

Thailand’s shrimp exports are currently valued at Bt80 billion, with statistics showing that last year’s shrimp export to Australia is an estimated Bt 2 billion. Thailand is the number one exporter of shrimp to Australia.

If the measure is removed, Dr. Surapol said, Thailand’s shrimp exports to Australia will have a bright future.

--TNA 2007-02-13

[farangsay]

Thailand should immediately tit-for-tat with a ban on

importation of Australian beer (Fosters , VB et al)

citing unacceptable level of sheep's' urine contamination

(999,999 parts per million).

[Pink Mist]

Thailand should immediately tit-for-tat with a ban on

importation of Australian beer (Fosters , VB et al)

citing unacceptable level of sheep's' urine contamination

(999,999 parts per million).

they should stop importing fosters to Oz also, shirt beer and south pacific soapdodgers like it too.

[sriracha john]

A man holds a placard during a protest over a ban on Thai shrimp outside the Australia embassy in Bangkok. Australia banned all prawn and shrimp imports on Monday at the request of the state of Queensland after detecting white spot syndrome virus in a number of shipments from Thailand, local media reported.

REUTERS

*additional placard sponsored by Bangkok Herald-Examiner*

[wintermute]

How much dairy does Australia actually export to Thailand anyways? I bet if a trade war broke out that Thailand would get the much shorter end of the stick. Australia could bear the brunt of getting embargoed by a puny nation like Thailand but Thailand would hurt much worse.

[NedKelly]

Whats wrong with the idiots.....clean up yr act or pith offf I reckon. Who'd want to eat dirty prawns anyway - even if they were barbied ! Seems like a small thing to ask for - healthy prawns mate.

[Pink Mist]

free trade agreement

crap

fair migration agreement

crap

it's a nothing agreement, toxin brokered it with howard so what do yo expect

lets do it again

[baboon]

Hopefully someone upstairs will begin to understand how so many of us feel and adjust laws which discriminate against us. Not funny is it? I m not holding my breath, however...

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Hmm, seems to me that the Thai government would lose if Thailand stopped importing Australian dairy product as there is a hefty import tax on stuff.

Also, how many Thais do you see eating cheese?

[h90]

Whats wrong with the idiots.....clean up yr act or pith offf I reckon. Who'd want to eat dirty prawns anyway - even if they were barbied ! Seems like a small thing to ask for - healthy prawns mate.

as well the antibiotica.

Most probably bad farming (to many, to dirty), than putting a lot of antibiotica, getting rid of bacteria but does not help against viruses.

[Tony Clifton]

Whats wrong with the idiots.....clean up yr act or pith offf I reckon. Who'd want to eat dirty prawns anyway - even if they were barbied ! Seems like a small thing to ask for - healthy prawns mate.

They had a problem with exports previously. The prawns contained high traces of anti-biotics or hormones.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Thailand should immediately tit-for-tat with a ban on

importation of Australian beer (Fosters , VB et al)

citing unacceptable level of sheep's' urine contamination

(999,999 parts per million).

Stopping Australian wines entering Thailand would hurt Oz a lot, lot more.

[nick2k]

REALITY CHECK!!!!

Stopping shrimp from entering Australia would hurt Thailand more. a lot, lot more.

Australia is one of those few countries on this planet that can actually support themselves with food, and resources. and of course, they could always sell their wares to the USA.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Thailand should immediately tit-for-tat with a ban on

importation of Australian beer (Fosters , VB et al)

citing unacceptable level of sheep's' urine contamination

(999,999 parts per million).

Stopping Australian wines entering Thailand would hurt Oz a lot, lot more.

I'm not sure about that - it would probably hurt the Thai government more with the massive levy that is in place on wine!

Edited February 14, 2007 by The Dan Sai Kid