The two agencies have circulated a warning letter to breeders in Nakhon Pathom, who over the weekend killed hundreds of piglets in a public area in protest to the government over falling prices.

Internal Trade Department director-general Siripol Yodmuangcharoen said yesterday that he had talked with Yukol Limlamthong, deputy permanent secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, about the ministry taking legal action against the breeders in question.

Officials and pig breeders have agreed to gradually slaughter 100,000 piglets this year. The plan has been drawn up to solve the problem of oversupply, which is bringing down the retail price of pork.

To solve the problem, the two ministries have organised a special marketing campaign to sell two kilograms of pork for Bt100. Consumers have urged them to supply cheaper pork to more fresh markets.

Siripol said his agency had also asked the Customs Department to investigate some traders, who reportedly import pig intestines for Bt10 per kilogram.

However, the actual cost of the imported offal is between Bt60 and Bt70 per kilo, Siripol said.

The Customs Department will take legal action against any traders found to have falsified import prices.

In addition, the Livestock Development Department will work closely with the Food and Drug Administration to inspect imported pig intestines for disease.