Thailand keeps China poultry export request under review
Thai authorities have reaffirmed that China’s request to export poultry products remains under scientific review, highlighting the country’s rigorous import approval process and commitment to protecting animal health, food safety, and domestic poultry production.
Thailand has not approved China’s request to export poultry products, despite growing interest in expanding agricultural trade between the two countries. According to Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD), the application is still in the initial stages of technical evaluation and must undergo multiple scientific and regulatory assessments before any market-opening decision can be considered.
Officials emphasized that the review follows Thailand’s long-established sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import procedures, which are applied equally to all countries seeking market access. The process is designed to safeguard animal health, protect consumers, and ensure imported products meet Thailand’s veterinary and food safety standards.
Thai authorities stress that China’s application is still under scientific evaluation and should not be interpreted as an indication that poultry imports have been approved.
China’s request is still at an early stage
The application was submitted by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) in January 2026 and includes requests to export several poultry products to Thailand, including:
- Frozen poultry meat
- Cooked poultry products
- Chicken liver
- Goose liver
- Selected poultry by-products
Before any commercial trade can begin, Thailand must complete an extensive scientific review to determine whether China’s production systems satisfy national import requirements and international animal health standards.
Submitting an import request is only the first step. Approval requires multiple scientific evaluations and regulatory reviews before market access can be granted.
A rigorous import approval process
Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development follows one of the region’s most comprehensive procedures for approving imports of animal products. The framework is intended to minimize disease risks while ensuring imported products meet national veterinary requirements.
The process generally includes:
- Initial document review submitted by the exporting authority.
- Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) risk assessment.
- Requests for additional scientific and technical information where necessary.
- Possible on-site inspections of production and processing facilities.
- Development and approval of official veterinary health certificates.
- Publication of approved establishments before commercial exports can begin.
Only after all of these stages are completed can Thailand authorize imports from approved facilities.
The review process examines not only the final products but also disease surveillance systems, veterinary controls, processing standards, traceability, and certification procedures.
Food safety and animal health remain priorities
Thailand’s review extends beyond trade considerations. Authorities must evaluate potential risks associated with:
- Avian influenza status in exporting regions.
- Residue monitoring programs.
- Veterinary drug controls.
- Food safety systems.
- Processing hygiene standards.
- Traceability throughout the production chain.
- Official veterinary certification.
These evaluations help ensure imported poultry products meet Thailand’s public health and animal health objectives while maintaining confidence among consumers and trading partners.
Scientific risk assessment—not commercial considerations alone—forms the basis of Thailand’s poultry import approval process.
Domestic poultry producers are watching closely
The application has attracted considerable attention because Thailand is one of Asia’s leading poultry-producing and poultry-exporting countries. Domestic poultry farming contributes significantly to rural employment, food production, and export earnings.
Industry organizations and several political representatives have expressed concerns that opening the market to imported poultry could increase competitive pressure on domestic producers. Consequently, authorities have repeatedly stated that protecting Thailand’s poultry industry remains an important consideration throughout the review process.
While economic competitiveness is receiving attention, officials continue to emphasize that all decisions will be based on scientific evidence and regulatory compliance.
Thailand’s poultry sector is strategically important to both domestic food security and international exports, making import decisions particularly significant.
A broader regional trade relationship
The current review also reflects the increasingly interconnected poultry trade across Asia. Thailand already exports poultry products to numerous international markets and continues working to expand market access throughout the region.
Recent approvals allowing Thai exports of raw chicken and duck products to additional Asian markets demonstrate the country’s continued efforts to strengthen its own export opportunities.
Because both Thailand and China are major players in the regional poultry industry, any future changes to market access could have implications for trade flows, competitiveness, and supply chains across Asia.
The review is taking place within a broader regional context where poultry market access has become increasingly important for both exporters and importing countries.
What happens next?
The Department of Livestock Development is expected to continue gathering scientific information from Chinese authorities before completing its sanitary risk assessment. Additional documentation, technical clarification, and potentially facility inspections may still be required.
Even after technical evaluations are completed, official veterinary certificates and approved establishment lists would still need to be finalized before imports could begin.
For now, officials continue to emphasize that no approval has been granted, and the application remains at an early stage of the regulatory review process.
Thailand’s careful review demonstrates how modern poultry trade depends not only on commercial demand, but also on rigorous scientific assessment, disease prevention, food safety standards, and regulatory confidence between trading partners.