Australia ranks as Thailand's sixth-largest shrimp export market. Last year's volume totalled 17,840 tonnes, accounting for 5.1 per cent of the Kingdom's total shrimp export volume, while value increased 2.6 per cent to Bt2.39 billion.

Thailand's largest export market for shrimp is the US, followed by the EU, Japan, Canada and South Korea.

Yuthasak Supasorn, executive director of the institute, said rising exports of shrimp products had prompted Thai farmers to shift from black-tiger shrimp farming to vannamai shrimp or white shrimp, which give a higher yield. So far, vannamai shrimp accounts for 90 per cent of the country's total shrimp farms.

However, white shrimp has a lower export price than black-tiger shrimp, which will directly affect the country's total export value even though export volume has increased.

The IRA's risk evaluation will focus on considering the disease level that will harm human beings. This data will be used to impose an "Acceptable Level of Protection" (ALOP).

The measure will concentrate on closely monitoring five diseases: white-spot syndrome virus, yellowhead virus, taura syndrome virus, infectious hypodermal and haematpoietic necrosis virus and necrotising hepatopancreatitis bacterium.

Australia will import shrimp only from countries that have not had widespread exposure to these viruses. Shrimp products like tempura shrimp and shrimp balls are required to be boiled at a high temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and must be certified by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

Thai exporters are worried about unfair practices, saying the measure is really to protect Australia's local market, particularly farmers. However, consumers will have to pay more, due to higher costs caused by the more stringent quality-inspection process.