Thailand Bolsters Poultry Standards

THAILAND - People in Thailand celebrating this month's Lunar New Year will do so with higher quality chicken - the staple food in the annual festival.

Thailand's Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry ordered poultry slaughterhouses to upgrade their quality standards. The Ministry also ordered local authorities to focus on the hygienic standards of slaughter plants during the New Year celebrations.

Under Thai tradition, an entire chicken represents prosperity and wholeness and has special significance when presented ceremonially to the ancestors and the kitchen god.

Speaking after touring a state-of-the-art chicken processing plant at Charoen Pokphand Foods - one of Thailand's largest poultry producers - Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan said the ministry is drafting regulations to upgrade sanitary standards in poultry slaughterhouses across the country for the safety of consumers. The new regulations will be in effect within the month.

The new regulations will apply to large and small poultry processors. Most large processors meet more stringent international hygiene and quality standards because they export poultry products.

Keyuraphan said the Ministry plans to help the small processors meet the new regulations through programs such as soft loans.

Source: Wisconsin Ag Connection

26 January 2006