Cablegate: Implementation of Amended Lacey Act (Thailand)

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #3634 3471001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121001Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5369

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003634

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/ENRC MJohnsen

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO TH
SUBJECT: Implementation of Amended Lacey Act (Thailand)

Ref: State 126654

1. ESTHoff delivered Reftel talking points on December 3 the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture. The ministries
assigned action officers to translate and report on details of the
Lacey Act amendments through the ministerial leadership. Ministry
points of contact reported that they would reply to ESTHoff with any
comments or concerns, but that this might take several weeks.

2. On December 12, Eueychai Sanitasiri, Director of Export Plant and
Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, noted to ESTHff his
concern over the effects (i.e., procedural burdens) of the
Amendments on the Thai orchid export industry, which he said
accounts for 99% of Thai plant exports to the U.S. Orchid
export/import schedules must be timed precisely and predictably so
that the flowers arrive at optimum bloom, Sanitasiri said. The
Ministry plans to hold a meeting with orchid exporters to discuss
the Amendments, and may invite State and FAS officials to brief the
exporters. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests additional briefing
materials on the Amendments as they become available.

3. The talking points were delivered to the following officials:
Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
-- Somchai Charnnarongkul, Director-General; Wichar Thitiprasert,
Director of Plant Varieties Protection Office. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs -- Kanchana Patarachoke, Director, North America Division,
Department of American and South Pacific Affairs. POCs at Post are
Gary Meyer, Agricultural Counselor (gary.meyer@fas.usda.gov), Howell
Howard (howardhh@state.gov), for regional aspects of Lacey Act
amendments, and Selma Garrido (garridos@state.gov) for Thailand.
JOHN

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