Thailand intends to export crocodile meat to China

In an effort to export crocodile meat to China, Thailand is working to provide information on its crocodile products to the Chinese authorities, local media reported Monday.

Quoting Charanthada Kannasutra, deputy director-general of the Thai Fisheries Department, the Thai News Agency said the country has asked China to allow exports of crocodile meat as there is a great demand of the product in China, claimed to be healthy and of aphrodisiac qualities.

Thailand's crocodile farms are highly developed and accepted internationally, said Charanthada.

With an output of more than 100,000 crocodiles a year, Thailand exports most of its crocodile products to the European Union, according to the report. Fresh crocodile meat fetches around 600 baht (15 US dollars) a kilogram, while dried meat earns around 3,000 baht (75 US dollars) a kilogram.

The government hopes to speed up the preparation of information on the risks in exporting crocodile meat to China before submitting it to Chinese officials for consideration, the report said.