Japanese authorities inspect Thailand's meat factories

BANGKOK, February 6 (TNA) - Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are inspecting the standard of cooked meat factories in Thailand. The visiting Japanese team met executives of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Livestock Development Department, including the department's deputy director-general, Wimolporn Thitisak, Monday. The annual visit and inspection of the Japanese authorities have resulted from agreed cooperation between the two sides. During their stay in Thailand, the Japanese officials were set to inspect seven designated factories, randomly inspecting at two factories and visiting another facility which was previously ordered for improvement. There have been, however, no reports on any sub-standard aspect during their ongoing inspections so far. Japan has become Thailand's top importer of cooked chicken and pork for several years, with its imports likely to reach 480,000 tons for cooked chicken and about 15,554 tons for cooked pork and cooked meat of other hoofed animals this year. (TNA)