Thai pig farmers oppose plan to import US pork

NONTHABURI, July 13 (TNA) – Thai pig farmers oppose any possible plan by the Thai government to import pork from the US as the latter allows the use of beta agonist in pig farms and Thailand’s pork supplies are enough for domestic consumption. Surachai Sutthitham, president of the Thai Swine Raisers Association submitted the letter to the Commerce Ministry to oppose the plan after US President Donald Trump has a policy to solve the trade imbalance, pushing for Thailand to import pork from the US. The association said that the use of beta agonist, synthetic substance to increase muscle-to-fat ratio and produce lean meat is allowed in the US pig farms while it is banned by law in Thailand. Moreover, Mr Surachai said the pork production in the kingdom currently come from about 15 million pigs, which is enough for domestic consumption and the pork supplies are now about 4-5 per cent surplus, so there is no need to import more pork from other countries. The pork imports if allowed just like what Vietnam did, could bring out the oversupply and price slump in the country, he said. (TNA)