China agrees to import Thai chicken for the first time

BANGKOK, March 21 (TNA) -- The Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA) has registered seven Thai chicken factories, allowing them to export chicken to China worth 7 billion baht a year. Apai Suthisang, director-general of the Livestock Development Department, said the registration of the chicken-processing plants allowed Thailand to export chicken to China for the first time. The seven plants were among 19 similar facilities that Chinese authorities examined. If China registers all the inspected factories, the value of Thai chicken exports to China can reach 20 billion baht annually, he said. Somchuan Ratanamangkalanont, deputy director-general and spokesman of the department, said China’s green light for the import of chicken meat and parts from Thailand created an important opportunity. “The approved export will raise chicken prices. China has confidence in the quality of Thai products. The chicken export to China should start in late March,” he said. (TNA)