Raisers oppose pressures on import of US pig meat

BANGKOK, Sept 30 (TNA) -- The Thai Swine Raisers Association has opposed pressures lodged by the US government for Thailand to import pig meat from the US. Vice President of the Association Veterinarian Wiwat Pongwiwattanachai said his association organised a seminar after the US government wanted Thailand to import pig heads, legs and intestines which the Americans do not eat to Thailand as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha is schedueld to pay an official visit to Washington between October 2-4. He said Thai pig raisers are opposed to the US pressure and the association is prepared to stand with the government in making the decision. If possible, there should not be import of US pig meat into Thailand because raisers there use red meat enhancers and Genetically Modified Crops in feeding pigs, Veterinarian Wiwat charged. If the Thai government has to import what he called the “pig garbage” from the US, the Thai raisers would be doomed. Simultaneously, Surachai Sutthitham, president of the Association, said his association has been opposing importation US pig meat for about a decade and this seminar would continue to stress the plan to import. Thailand’s economy would suffer damages amounting trillion baht annually if US pig meat is imported into the kingdom, Mr Surachai said. The Thai government should consider the issue carefully in order to protect local pig raisers, Mr Surachai added. (TNA)