On 16 March 2012, Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Thai Ambassador and Head of the Thai Mission to the European Union (EU), along with Mr. Adisorn Promthep, Agricultural Minister and Ms. Pimchanok Vonkhorporn, Commercial Minister, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, to introduce himself as the new Thai Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Thai Mission to the EU. In this connection, both sides discussed how to further promote Thai - EU relations and cooperation. Highlights of the discussion included the Ambassador’s request for the EU to lift the existing ban on Thai uncooked chicken import into the EU due to the Avian Flu issue since February 2009, given that Thailand has now gained the Avian Flu-free status in accordance with international standard, support for Thailand’s three applications for Geographical Indications (GI) Protection for Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong Hai rice, Doi Chang coffee and Doi Tung coffee, Thailand’s registration for the EU’s Third Countries List Scheme for organic agricultural products, as well as the latest status on a possible launch of the EU-Thailand FTA. On his part, Mr. Ciolos expressed the EU’s interest in commencing FTA negotiations with Thailand and further agreed to support the lifting of the ban on Thai uncooked chicken import into the EU due to expire in June 2012, as well as Thailand’s applications for 3 GI protections in the EU.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th