Thailand To Contest Australia’s Claim About Fruit Contamination

[george]

Thailand to contest Australia’s claim about fruit contamination

BANGKOK: -- Despite racking up a huge trade surplus with Australia as a result of the bilateral free trade deal, Thailand says it is taking steps to challenge Canberra’s stringent import rules on fresh fruits and shrimp.

Chutima Bunyapraphasara, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, told a press briefing that actions were being taken to counter the impact of the soon-to-be-launched stricter rules for shrimp and other agricultural produce including fresh fruits.

She said she was informed unofficially that Thai pomelo and mango were included in a list of exotic fresh fruits targeted in Canberra’s efforts to curb the spread of foreign diseases and viruses to local plants and

animals.

According to the senior trade negotiator, Thai officials are prepared to submit results of scientific studies that certify Thai shrimp and other agricultural produce to be free of diseases Australia is worried about.

Unless Canberra has scientific reasons to prove otherwise, Thailand would deem Australia’s proposed health and food safety standards as unilateral trade measures, she said, adding that the government would not hesitate to seek the World Trade Organisation’s ruling on whether Australia’s actions could be justified under the international trade rules.

Despite potential trade frictions, Thailand has recorded a huge trade surplus with Australia by taking full advantage of lower duties under their free-trade pact.

Trade with Australia showed a surplus of Bt35.11 billion last year, compared to a deficit of Bt3.47 billion in 2005 when the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (Tafta) was implemented, the Trade Negotiations

Department said Thursday.

Out of the Kingdom's total exports to Australia, those under Tafta's low import tariffs accounted for 63.08 per cent. However, Australia used Tafta's tax privileges for only 13.75 per cent of its exports to Thailand.

Two-way trade grew 14.69 per cent to Bt295.52 billion last year. Thai exports jumped by 30.06 per cent to Bt165.3 billion, while imports from Australia dropped slightly by 0.28 per cent to Bt130.2 billion.

Major Thai exports include commercial vehicles, automobiles and components, air-conditioners, prepared fish and machinery. While Australia exported under the free trade scheme consisted mainly of pure aluminium, wheat, zinc, other minerals and un-roasted malt.

-- TNA 2007-02-24

[Mid]

an issue that's not going away any time soon ,

Australia is an island with strict controls on flora and fauna .

[Chang_paarp]

You can bet this is not specifically targeted at Thailand but at fruit import in general. Any food imports into Au are treated with suspicion as there is very little disease here, this makes the export of food goods to many markets a lot easier. Try to buy US or Canadian beef in Japan, Aussie beef is there.

the prawn matter may be a little different as there is a local prawn industry that is hurting over cheap (they say unsustainable) imports from countries like Thailand.

[KireB]

I hope they're wrong because I just love the Thai Shrimps!

[HenryLongfellow]

You can bet this is not specifically targeted at Thailand but at fruit import in general

I know that local Banana growers are particularly concerned about diseases in Indonesian fruit that is likely to enter Oz and infect our local plantations.

[samran]

it is going to be a long drawn out issue that is for sure. Naturally the Thai's will think that Australia is imposing non-tariff barriers in the form of quarantine restrictions.

Australian's, used to having to dump their fruit when even travelling between states and territories, and having seen the resulting destruction from the introduction of feral animals and weeds, will naturally see this one from a wholly different perspective.

[jomtienbob]

Australia is only following world's best practice and protecting its own agricultural industries and environment. Some diseases and bacteria breed well in these tropical hot climates and can re-manifest themselves in places like Australia very easily. Australia has a very long history and experience with this.

That being said, I cannot begin to wonder why the Australian beaurocracy make it so hard for new technologies in biocides and disinfectants to get certification and thus use in Australia. There are several non-toxic technologies now emerging however these were not invented by Americans or English commonwealth origins. Thus they rebuke the science as flawed and impassable.

Yes you guessed right I am involved with one such technology from former communist origins and of course we are going full steam ahead in Asia, yet the Australia (the country I was born and grew up in sadly) are still beating the communist reds under the bed drum from the 60's. Just an appalling joke when in knowing this one reads this story!

[Galong]

I hope they're wrong because I just love the Thai Shrimps!

Besides being loaded with dangerous drugs, antibiotics and other chemicals used to keep the shrimp alive long enough to sell to unsuspecting consumers, shrimp farming is one of the most destructive forms of farming out there. Shrimp farming is banned in almost all other countries because it is so bad for the environment.

Shrimp fishermen have an outrageously high amount of 'by catch'... meaning, for every shrimp they catch, they catch a lot of other species that are killed accidently.

Australia is wise to have strict controls on flora and fauna. There are likely many possibilities for very harmful life forms to enter Australia. They should beef up their controls even further... in my humble opinion.

[aussiestyle1983]

an issue that's not going away any time soon ,

Australia is an island with strict controls on flora and fauna .

Spot on.

I dont think it would be much of a loss to Australia is some of Thailands exotic fruits stoped showing up. The Thais (who seem to think they can do whatever they want) need to stop complaining about others countries laws and policies and focus on their own problems................

Its also not surprising that this issue was announced only several days after Australia issued updated travel warnings for Thailand

[0Mix1up]

Australia: We'll take your very cheap food as long as its relatively clean (and doesn't cause us an election issue).

Australia: We don't want your people. Unless your willing to work under a forign(sp?) worker scheme that allows us to pay you under award wages/conditions.

Ohh and we don't want women, they'll put to much pressure on the local breed who have it real good.(excuse the rant, sad but true)

Thailand: Pick up something in/on the ground and we will turn it into something other than dirt.

Thailand: Send us your quality tourists only.(Aussie sex tourists and backbackers need not apply)

anymore?

[wintermute]

an issue that's not going away any time soon ,

Australia is an island with strict controls on flora and fauna .

Spot on.

I dont think it would be much of a loss to Australia is some of Thailands exotic fruits stoped showing up. The Thais (who seem to think they can do whatever they want) need to stop complaining about others countries laws and policies and focus on their own problems................

Its also not surprising that this issue was announced only several days after Australia issued updated travel warnings for Thailand

It's the typical import/export squabbling except Thailand has little leverage in global trade. If you rely mainly on low skill manufactured exports as 60% of your GDP then any richer nation who you trade with can say "jump" and you have to say "how how, sir?" or they'll just stop buying your cheaply made crap.

[Scott]

It's best if Australia imposes strict regulations from the get-go. If they have (or had) restrictions between Australian states they can certainly justify it. I know when you go into California, they have check points and you can't bring fruit or vegetables from other states in to protect the local crops.

Once these diseases get established it's a big problem.

[Chang_paarp]

It's best if Australia imposes strict regulations from the get-go. If they have (or had) restrictions between Australian states they can certainly justify it. I know when you go into California, they have check points and you can't bring fruit or vegetables from other states in to protect the local crops.

Once these diseases get established it's a big problem.

There are quarantine stops within several states. No fruit and veg without the correct paperwork. if you catch a plane to Western Australia they put the dogs through all the luggage and around the passengers while they wait for the luggage. A big no-no to bring any fruit into the state. Not just special treatment for Thailand.

Edited February 26, 2007 by Chang_paarp