The European Commission this week applauded a series of measures by Thailand aimed at overcoming recent discoveries of harmful antibiotics in Thai shrimp and chicken exported to the EU, an AFX news story reports.
"The European Commission has had useful and fruitful discussions with the Thai authorities on this matter who have rapidly responded by deciding to take a series of measures," its Bangkok office said in a statement.
Last week, the European Union said it would step up testing of shrimp and chicken from Thailand, as well as shrimp from Myanmar and Vietnam, after spot checks revealed nitrofuran residues in shrimp imported from all three countries, and chloramphenicol in Thai chicken.
The EC said Thailand was committed to reinforcing checks on its shrimp and poultry products, banning 16 chemicals already banned in the EU and the United States, recalling consignments bound to the EU for further inspection and testing, and impose penalties for persons who infringe the export conditions.
"The European Commission welcomes the cooperative and constructive approach of the Thai government to this problem, and is confident that these measures will contribute to a rapid resolution of the problem and to a return to the normal procedure for imports as quickly as possible," the Commission continued.
In a bid to reassure the Thai seafood industry, the statement also added that the European Commission "has not threatened to ban imports of shrimps and poultry from Thailand should any shipment test positive for nitrofurans in the coming weeks".