What have they got against football?

[Flashermac]

BANGKOK POST

13 Feb 2007

 

 

Shrimp farmers protest Australian rules

 

 

(TNA) - A group of 50 shrimp farmers from the South 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 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 the 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.

 

Thailandâ??s shrimp exports are currently valued at 80 billion baht, with statistics showing that last yearâ??s shrimp export to Australia is an estimated 2 billion baht. Thailand is the number one exporter of shrimp to Australia.

 

If the measure is removed, Mr Surapol said, Thailandâ??s shrimp exports to Australia will have a bright future.