RESTRICTIONS ON FEED-MEAL IMPORT

       The Commerce Ministry will propose the government maintain import restrictions on raw materials for feed mills next year, to ensure that the businesses can adequately plan in advance.
       Acting permanent secretary Yanyong Phuangrach yesterday said the government would finalise its import policy for feed meal soon after Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai approved it.
       The action came after private enterprises called on the government to set up a meeting of the Food Policy Committee to allocate an import quota for soybean meal, maize and powdered fish in advance of the new year, in order to plan next year's production.
       Under the import policy, the government will freely allow soybean-meal imports at a tariff of 2 per cent. However, importers must also purchase an equal quantity of domestic soybean meal, which will help prevent the soybean price from dropping amid a flood of imports.
       Feed-meal producers will be allowed unlimited imports of maize from March 1 to June 30 of next year. Imports of powdered fish will enjoy zero tariffs under the Asean Free Trade Agreement, against a tariff of 5 per cent now.