Pig Farmers In Thailand Up In Arms Over U S Pressure

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Pig farmers up in arms over US pressure
The Nation

BANGKOK: - Members of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand and other concerned parties are considering marching to Government House in protest against US pressure on Thailand to open up its market to US pork and offal.

Surachai Sutthitham, president of the association, yesterday said pig farmers nationwide would write to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asking the government for protection measures against attempts to export US pork products to the Kingdom.

Through the US Embassy in Bangkok, agencies representing that country's farmers and exporters have recently sought to pressure the government to open up the market to their pork and offal goods.

The move has raised an alarm bell among Thai pig raisers, as the US government subsidises its farmers to strengthen their export competitiveness, which means they can impose lower retail prices than local producers in overseas markets are able to do.

"The raising of pigs is an important occupation in Thailand, and one that has upgraded the standard of living of farmers for decades. Farmers are now also able to produce high-quality meat to serve domestic demand, and they sometimes face oversupply," Surachai said.

He argued that if the government allowed the United States to access the Thai market, it would result in a serious oversupply situation and bring down domestic prices. This in turn would force Thai farmers to shut down operations, as they would not be able to shoulder big losses.

Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan have already opened up their markets for US pork, which is priced much lower than local production and has pulled farm-gate prices down to an average of Bt50 per kilogram, he said.

As a result, many farmers in the three countries are facing bankruptcy as their main source of income dries up, he added.

He said that besides Washington's export-subsidy policy strengthening its farmers' international competitiveness, the United States would also export the unwanted parts of its pigs, such as the head, feet and offal.

Moreover, the use of chemicals such as ractopamine and carbadox - fed to pigs to turn their meat into a redder product - is allowed by the US government, whereas such use is prohibited in Thailand, Surachai said.

"The import of US pork would confuse Thai consumers, as they would not be able separate Thai products from US pork, which would result in a high health risk due to the use of these chemicals," he insisted.

Moscow does not permit the sale of US pork, despite Russia's high growth in pork consumption. Moscow's policy is based on the need to ensure food safety and people's health, Surachai said.


-- The Nation 2013-05-21

[chooka]

I don't think the U.S is to concerned about Thai pig farmers, they couldn't care less if they put them out of business totally as it means more money and wealth for the U.S at the expense of of the little countries. It is all about greed and the dollar.

[jonclark]

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

[jonclark]

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

...and as for bringing down domestic prices - well that's good for the consumer isn't it?

[BookMan]

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

...and as for bringing down domestic prices - well that's good for the consumer isn't it?

Lowest prices sound very good for the consumer, but they do not always benefit society as a whole.

You take away all your industry and the quality of life for many reduces.

[Robby nz]

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

Not pig farmers no

Enough offal comes out of parliament without having to import any.

[Chao Lao Beach]

How about other countries ban Thai pork and see how these folks like it. Price of bacon in Thailand is a joke, actually Thai bacon is full of water and really sucks.

[tomyummer]

I look forward to having US homegrown antibiotic pork. Yummy.

[JeremyBowskill]

competition is a good thing right? As long as its not all GM modified, with 5 legs and 2 HAMS I'm all for it.

[davehowden]

We buy your pork and you buy our rice, OK pal!

[chooka]

How about other countries ban Thai pork and see how these folks like it. Price of bacon in Thailand is a joke, actually Thai bacon is full of water and really sucks.

I have to admit Thai bacon is terrible, no meat on it and is only that stringy type. Give me the good Aussie/English style bacon anyday and not the American/Thai style.

[chooka]

We buy your pork and you buy our rice, OK pal!

rotting rice for rotting pork, that's fair.

[rametindallas]

Americans have been dying in droves from all the ractopamine and carbadox in their pork products /sarc. Ractopamine is used to keep the pork lean in the final feed-out. It is banned in 80 countries including the EU. The human safety of meat products derived from food animals fed ractopamine has been confirmed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2004, 2006, and 2010 and by 27 regulatory authorities from around the world.

Carbadox is a drug that combats infection in swine, particularly swine dysentery. Banned by Canada in 2004 for addition to livestock feed and for human consumption as it is a carcinogen in animals. Also banned in any quantity in the EU and in animals produced for food in Australia. The U.S. allows its use for up to 42 days before slaughter.

Thailand has several legitimate reasons to ban pork imported from the U.S. whose lawmaking bodies have been bought lock, stock, and barrel by the giant agribusiness there. I wish Monsanto could be kicked out of Thailand for the overuse of pesticides.

Edited May 21, 2013 by rametindallas

[Scully]

I have done the whole pig farming lark for 5 years, basically to help a Thai family become self sufficient. There is money to be made but only if the meat price is in your favour, if the price was to become as low as 50baht there would be lot's of small farms go out of business as at that price you would only get the feed price back.

I suppose it's a free world to trade but it would put many out of business, not the larger outfits but the family farmers.

Yes and no subsidies for pig farmers, yet.

[noitom]

It's really puzzling how US pork could be cheaper than Thai pork in the supermarket. What we really need is an investigative article examining the gouging in the Thai pork distribution market channels. That's what makes Thai pork higher, the gouging and the skim in the middle.

[thaicbr]

How about other countries ban Thai pork and see how these folks like it.   Price of bacon in Thailand is a joke, actually Thai bacon is full of water and really sucks. 

Where I get my Bacon it's not full of water.. but then I get mine from a British master butcher here in Thailand. Pm if you want details.

He also does sausages and pies

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[toybits]

It would effectively kill off the local pork production industry. Money would also be expropriated. This is not good for the local economies of the affected countries. I believe the Thai Swine Raisers group has a legitimate worry about foreign competition.

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

...and as for bringing down domestic prices - well that's good for the consumer isn't it?

[AyG]

If the Americans export all their pig snouts and anuses to Thailand, what will they put in their hot dog sausages? It could be a national crisis.

[smedly]

I have done the whole pig farming lark for 5 years, basically to help a Thai family become self sufficient. There is money to be made but only if the meat price is in your favour, if the price was to become as low as 50baht there would be lot's of small farms go out of business as at that price you would only get the feed price back.

I suppose it's a free world to trade but it would put many out of business, not the larger outfits but the family farmers.

Yes and no subsidies for pig farmers, yet.

perhaps the feed price is too high - a price adjustment has a ripple effect right down the supply chain and so it should

as for US pork - I would prefer not to eating that with the included chemicals - why on earth do they continue to allow it ?????

[harryfrompattaya]

Hang on a minute - The US subsidies its farmers - Never see that happening in Thailand

Thailand sell shrimp to America no problem How about rice

But America sell pork to Thailand NO NO No

[LuckyLew]

So how about Thailand refuse US pork

and how about US refuse to import Thai shrimp

If one country uses protectionism the other country will do so

[Scully]

I have done the whole pig farming lark for 5 years, basically to help a Thai family become self sufficient. There is money to be made but only if the meat price is in your favour, if the price was to become as low as 50baht there would be lot's of small farms go out of business as at that price you would only get the feed price back.

I suppose it's a free world to trade but it would put many out of business, not the larger outfits but the family farmers.

Yes and no subsidies for pig farmers, yet.

perhaps the feed price is too high - a price adjustment has a ripple effect right down the supply chain and so it should

as for US pork - I would prefer not to eating that with the included chemicals - why on earth do they continue to allow it ?????

You start the pigs off on bought mix, to give them the required start, as it contains all a the antibodies for a piglet to grow. Then it is broken rice and ram sourced from the smaller millers as it's cheaper. If you were to raise a pig on bought bags of food you would make a loss full stop. You are definately right about feed price there is no profit margin whatsoever.

[laislica]

So how about Thailand refuse US pork

and how about US refuse to import Thai shrimp

If one country uses protectionism the other country will do so

Moscow does not permit the sale of US pork, despite Russia's high growth in pork consumption. Moscow's policy is based on the need to ensure food safety and people's health, Surachai said.

And that's the real point, corruption in the USA allows poisons to be fed to their people.

Shameful!!! Keep it out of here!!!

[apalink_thailand]

It's really puzzling how US pork could be cheaper than Thai pork in the supermarket. What we really need is an investigative article examining the gouging in the Thai pork distribution market channels. That's what makes Thai pork higher, the gouging and the skim in the middle.

Massive subsidies.

[geriatrickid]

I don't think the U.S is to concerned about Thai pig farmers, they couldn't care less if they put them out of business totally as it means more money and wealth for the U.S at the expense of of the little countries. It is all about greed and the dollar.

Do you seriously expect the USA to allow Thailand unfettered access to its markets while the USA encounters trade barriers to Thai markets?

Really?

Trade does not work like that. If a country wants to sell into another market, it must be prepared to allow that market to sell into its own.

You do realize that the US position is no different than other countries and groups don't you? Do you think the EU, Australia, Canada, Russia, China just open their doors and say come on in?

[lovetotravel]

I have done the whole pig farming lark for 5 years, basically to help a Thai family become self sufficient. There is money to be made but only if the meat price is in your favour, if the price was to become as low as 50baht there would be lot's of small farms go out of business as at that price you would only get the feed price back.

I suppose it's a free world to trade but it would put many out of business, not the larger outfits but the family farmers.

Yes and no subsidies for pig farmers, yet.

perhaps the feed price is too high - a price adjustment has a ripple effect right down the supply chain and so it should

as for US pork - I would prefer not to eating that with the included chemicals - why on earth do they continue to allow it ?????

You don't think they use chemicals here? They do, and many are banned in other places around the world.

[Kilgore Trout]

Americans have been dying in droves from all the ractopamine and carbadox in their pork products /sarc. Ractopamine is used to keep the pork lean in the final feed-out. It is banned in 80 countries including the EU. The human safety of meat products derived from food animals fed ractopamine has been confirmed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2004, 2006, and 2010 and by 27 regulatory authorities from around the world.

Carbadox is a drug that combats infection in swine, particularly swine dysentery. Banned by Canada in 2004 for addition to livestock feed and for human consumption as it is a carcinogen in animals. Also banned in any quantity in the EU and in animals produced for food in Australia. The U.S. allows its use for up to 42 days before slaughter.

Thailand has several legitimate reasons to ban pork imported from the U.S. whose lawmaking bodies have been bought lock, stock, and barrel by the giant agribusiness there. I wish Monsanto could be kicked out of Thailand for the overuse of pesticides.

Here is an interesting article http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/01/27/opinion/EU-health-warning-is-also-for-Thai-consumers-sake-30147249.html

From the article:

" During a recent press conference, Thai independent researchers indicated that farmers here are continuing to use certain dangerous chemicals that are already banned in many countries"

Pot, kettle, and black come to mind.

[SteeleJoe]

I don't think the U.S is to concerned about Thai pig farmers, they couldn't care less if they put them out of business totally as it means more money and wealth for the U.S at the expense of of the little countries. It is all about greed and the dollar.

Shocking really. Thank goodness Thailand has such concern for the welfare of Americans...THEY certainly would never do anything that would adversely affect someone else even if it meant profit for them.

[geriatrickid]

So how about Thailand refuse US pork

and how about US refuse to import Thai shrimp

If one country uses protectionism the other country will do so

Moscow does not permit the sale of US pork, despite Russia's high growth in pork consumption. Moscow's policy is based on the need to ensure food safety and people's health, Surachai said.

And that's the real point, corruption in the USA allows poisons to be fed to their people.

Shameful!!! Keep it out of here!!!

As much as I am opposed to factory farming, the quality of US pork is comparatively high. The USDA, consumer groups and commercial users regularly test US pork for contaminants and "poisons". What testing is done in Thailand? Is there a mechanism to control contaminants entering the feed system? Do you realize that Thailand still uses animal products in its feed? Are you aware of the local slaughtering practices. For example, a pig in Phuket can be sent to market and no one checks the carcass, and there is no tracking ability. So please, get off your soapbox and comment when you are competent to comment on the integrity of the food supply chain in Thailand.

[thhMan]

Welcome to the World Thailand...

You have your laws to protect you against meat that has chemicals in it.... so what are you protesting about?