Thai exports of animal feeds grow by over 10% annually

BANGKOK, February 15 (TNA) - Thai exports of animal feeds have kept growing by over 10 per cent annually, worth about 120 billion baht each year. Dr. Trisadee Chaosuancharoen, Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, raised the figures at a meeting of local animal feed firms in Bangkok on Friday, suggesting that Thailand secure the value and stable potential of the country's animal feed exports, paving the way for the Kingdom to become a leading production base of animal feeds in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the future. Dr. Trisadee also urged the local producers of animal feeds to maintain high quality of the Thai product in accordance with market demand, namely not using prohibited substances, and preparing themselves for regional trade liberalization, with greater competition, once the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is formed by 2015. At the meeting, organized by the Department of Livestock Development, the local animal feed producers were also briefed on relevant laws and regulations, focused on those concerning quality, safety, control and precautious guidelines, covering use of antibiotics in the Thai product. (TNA)