Yangon Regional Government will take an action to crack down on illegal seafood imports from Thailand

The Yangon Regional Government will take action against those responsible for illegal seafood imports from Thailand. This will be done under a collaboration between the Fishery Department and the Food and Drugs Administration, according to U Hla Htay, Deputy Head of Fishery Department of Yangon.

“Officials seized 180 tons of fish at the market in Mawlamyine on September 10. We examined the fish and found that they contain formalin and is unfit for human consumption. We will check on the fishery products by collaborating with the FDA,” he said at the meeting held at Myanmar Fishery Federation on September 10.

At present, around 20 tons of white shrimp are supplied per day to Yangon’s markets, and officials have found out they also contained chemicals used for preserving fish, which are not suitable for human consumption.

U Kyi Ngwe, Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Fishery Federation, called for the collaboration between the Fishery Department and fishery businesses to fight the illegal imports.

“What we want to say is that, if you want to import seafood at lower prices to meet the demands of consumers, it is fine. But, we need to take food safety into account and they need to be imported legally,” he said.

Yangon Region tried to stop illegal imports back in 2015-2016. However, authorities were not equipped to properly enforce the law. Now, it will resume its fight against illegal imports by collaborating between government agencies, U Hla Htay said.

Fishery products and meats imported from Thailand are cheaper than that of locally produced products in Myanmar, causing unfair market competition for local businesses.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/government-crack-down-illegal-seafood-thailand )

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