Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand expects shrimp exports to Malaysia to resume soon after the two countries agreed to expedite the review process for quarantine and food safety requirements for the product.
Thai Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Suriya Jungrungreangkit held talks with Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu on July 1 to discuss Malaysia's temporary suspension of shrimp imports from the neighbouring country.
Suriya said the two sides agreed to accelerate the assessment of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and food safety measures, aiming to restore shrimp trade as soon as possible. He expressed confidence that if the process proceeds as planned, the review will be completed within the next 30 days, paving the way for Thailand to resume shrimp exports to the Malaysian market.
According to the Thai side, Malaysia's temporary suspension of shrimp imports stems from the country's implementation of new regulations aimed at improving management standards for agricultural import and export activities.
During the talks, the two sides also discussed Thailand's request to open the Malaysian market to Thai beef and pork products. Malaysia pledged to expedite the review process to facilitate the early export of these products.
Malaysia is one of Thailand's key shrimp export markets in Southeast Asia. However, from June 1, Malaysia temporarily suspended imports of five major Thai shrimp species while also tightening quarantine and food safety requirements for several imported seafood products.
Malaysia said the move is intended to strengthen biosecurity controls and ensure food safety. It is also reciprocal, following Thailand's earlier implementation of import controls on Malaysian sea bass. The temporary suspension has affected one of the Thai shrimp industry's key export markets, prompting both countries to speed up negotiations to resolve technical issues and restore trade as soon as possible./.
