Thailand's pig farmers rally against imported US pork

BANKGOK, June 11 (TNA) - Small-scaled pig farmers rallied at Bangkok's Government House on Tuesday morning to oppose the government's plan to import American pork. Surachai Sutthitham, President of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, led the small-scaled pig farmers to the Government House to submit their letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, complaining that the administration's planned imports of American pork would heavily affect local pig raisers as their pork prices are higher than those imported. The demonstrators pointed out that American swine raisers have lower costs of feeds, especially those of soybean and corn, and their pork prices are, therefore, cheaper than those of local producers. Surachai warned that imported American pork might also pose health risks because the United States permits the use of ractopamine and carbadox to make red pork, while Thailand's Department of Livestock Development, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, bans the chemicals in swine raising in compliance with the Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2525, and that the import of American pork might lead to swine influenza epidemics. Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Siriwat Kachornprasart, who received the complaint letter, told reporters that his ministry is ready to listen to the farmers’ opinions and to jointly work out with them solutions to protect Thai farmers and consumers. (TNA)