Pulau redang: Malaysia is currently awaiting a response from Thailand to a questionnaire concerning shrimp imports as part of efforts to resolve an ongoing trade dispute involving the commodity. The response will help assess Thailand's compliance with Malaysia's biosecurity requirements.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fisheries Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is actively examining the issue. They have requested Thailand to respond to the questionnaire sent through Malaysia's agricultural representative office in Bangkok. This will enable Malaysia to evaluate whether the shrimp imports meet local biosecurity standards.
Datuk Adnan emphasized the importance of Thailand's response to the questionnaire, as it will provide necessary clarifications. Speaking at the World Ocean Day 2026 celebration at Pulau Redang Marine Park, he mentioned that once the response is received, the compliance with Malaysia's biosecurity requirements will be assessed.
Additionally, Malaysia has reinforced its biosecurity measures concerning sea bass imports from Thailand. This follows Thailand's decision to impose restrictions and conduct full inspections on Malaysian sea bass exports. Malaysia now mandates a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for sea bass imported from Thailand prior to entry into the country. This step aligns with the comprehensive inspections Malaysian sea bass exports face in Thailand.
When queried about a deadline for Thailand's response, Adnan clarified that no specific timeframe has been set. The focus remains on conducting a thorough evaluation once a complete response is obtained.
As of May 16, Malaysia has tightened import controls on fishery products from Thailand by enforcing CoA requirements for sea bass and imposing a temporary ban on five shrimp species, effective June 1. The affected shrimp species include Penaeus esculentes, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, and Penaeus stylirostris.
Recently, it was reported that Thailand is prepared to escalate the issue of Malaysia's temporary suspension of shrimp imports to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and ASEAN forums if bilateral negotiations do not yield a resolution.