PUTRAJAYA: The outcome of talks between Malaysia and Thailand on trade issues involving shrimp exports and stricter checks on Malaysian seabass exports to Thailand is expected to be announced before the end of this month.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said officials from Thailand’s Agriculture Ministry had visited Malaysia over the matter, while his ministry would also conduct follow-up inspections soon.
“Once all the processes are completed, it will be announced before the end of this month,” he told reporters after opening the Global Animal Production and Veterinary Industry Summit (Gavis) 2026 here yesterday.
Mohamad said the outcome being worked out would benefit both countries.
“Yes, it is a win-win situation for both sides. These negotiations involve both parties, not just one side,” he said.
Mohamad had previously said the government was working on measures to address Thailand’s ban on Malaysian shrimp exports, which has been in place since 2017, as well as Malaysia’s application for market access for livestock products to Thailand, which has been pending since 2024.
He said the matter was discussed at the first National Food Security Council meeting for 2026, which also touched on Malaysia’s restriction on shrimp imports from Thailand, which took effect on June 1, as well as stricter inspections on Malaysian seabass exports to Thailand.
The five types of shrimps that were restricted are giant tiger prawn (black tiger), whiteleg shrimp, banana shrimp, brown shrimp (brown tiger) and blue shrimp.
Earlier in his speech, Mohamad said Gavis 2026 marked an important milestone as it brought the veterinary and animal production sectors under one platform after years of holding separate conferences.
He said the summit, themed “One Voice, One Health, One Future”, reflected the shared commitment of veterinarians, researchers, nutritionists, industry players and policymakers to build a safe, sustainable and productive food system.
Mohamad said the One Health approach was central to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, as human, animal and environmental health were closely linked.
“Veterinarians, together with animal scientists, remain our first line of defence against zoonotic diseases,” he said.
Mohamad said food security was not merely about farming, but a matter of national security and sovereignty, especially as demand for food continued to grow amid the challenges of climate change and antimicrobial resistance.
Under the Ekonomi Madani framework, he said the government aimed to uplift livestock producers, improve livelihoods and reduce reliance on imports.
Mohamad said food security, climate change and animal diseases did not respect borders and solutions must also be borderless.
He said Gavis 2026 brought together 108 presenters, including experts from China, Australia, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Vietnam, to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration and address shared challenges in livestock production and animal health.
Also present was Veterinary Services Department director- general Datuk Dr Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Haron.
