Sitthichok Dejphibal, the company's attorney on the case, said yesterday that the department had agreed last year to extend the deadline from August 31 of last year to June 30 this year to complete the delivery of 16.14 million rubber seedlings to farmers.

However, on April 20 the department sent a letter to the company informing it of the department's cancellation of the extension. The company claimed that its business and image had suffered due to the department's move.

UAE wants food plants inspected

A United Arab Emirates mission has asked for selective inspection of four chicken slaughterhouses and marine food processing plants.

Somchai Charnnarongkul, deputy director of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, said yesterday that this could pave the way for more Thai exports to the Middle Eastern country. The inspection would run from June 4-13 and 15 days after that the delegation would notify Thailand of the inspection results.

EU imposes pesticide limits

Food product exporters have been told to be fully alert for pesticide sediments, to comply with the European Union regulations that went into effect yesterday.

Apiradee Tantraporn, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said that if an item failed to meet the minimum sediment level, it would be confiscated and the exporter would be held responsible for costs incurred from the destruction of the item.

Thailand's livestock exports to the EU from 2003-2006 averaged Bt13 billion per year, while annual exports of frozen and dried vegetables and fruits were Bt12 billion.

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