Pinij Jarusombat, a key advocate of Thai-Chinese economic and social relations, has pledged to get the lucrative edible bird's nests exports to China back on track after the 14-billion baht industry was hit by Beijing’s tougher regulations on imports.
The chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Economic Association (TCCEA), said the two nations had a long, close and brother-like relationship and the problem relating to the country’s bird’s nest exports should not be viewed as too big to handle.
He said he was confident that the issue was negotiable and Bangkok and Beijing could find a mutually-agreed solution to the matter. However, he admitted the process could take some time.
Thai exporters are required to have a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the Department of Livestock Development and documents to certify the source of the nests and to prove their products have been collected from registered bird’s nest caves before the delicacy is allowed to enter the republic.
(the story continues below)
Photo by Amnart Thongdee
The crackdown came after China’s product safety watchdog detected harmful substances including nitrite and heavy metals in bird's nest products imported from Malaysia and Hong Kong in late 2011.
Mr Pinij met with concerned authorities, Chinese investors and representatives from companies that hold concessions to collect birds' nests in Chumphon province on Wednesday to find a solution to the problem.
The concession holders were from nine provinces including Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Krabi, Trang, Phangnga, Satun and Trat.
To produce an ad hoc solution to the problem, Chinese investors were invited to the meeting to directly buy bird’s nest products from local producers, Mr Pinij said.
The Livestock Development Department has so far registered 91 caves which have rich, quality bird’s nest yields in nine provinces and three bird’s nest depository and trade centres, said Kitikorn Janepaiboon, director of the 8th Region Livestock Development Office’s quality control of livestock products.
The department would soon deploy veterinarians to the centres to carry out inspections on all edible bird's nests before issuing the Veterinary Health Certificate, he said.
Thailand produces 18 tonnes of bird’s nests every year worth more than 14 billion baht in trade value. Most of the products were previously exported to China. The exporters are struggling to release their stocks. They also complained the price had fallen from 23,000 baht per kilo to 15,000 baht.