CP Foods Responds to Civil Lawsuit and Reaffirms Commitment to Addressing Blackchin Tilapia Issue

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) wishes to address a civil lawsuit filed by a group of fishermen from Samut Songkhram Province and the Law Society of Thailand, seeking compensation from the company for the alleged importation of Blackchin tilapia.

CP Foods clarifies that it has established a working committee to investigate the facts surrounding this issue. From the initial idea in 2006 to the decision to cease research in early 2011, CP Foods asserts that it is not the cause of the outbreak. However, the company is prepared to participate in the legal process to verify the facts and is confident in the justice system to accurately determine the truth, ultimately leading to a proper understanding within society.

While CP Foods is confident that it is not the source of the Blackchin tilapia issue, it acknowledges the significance of the matter. CP Foods has actively integrated efforts with various sectors to address the problem and has implemented measures in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ guidelines to alleviate public hardship. The company has undertaken five proactive initiatives, including:

1. Supporting the purchase of 2,000,000 kilograms of Blackchin tilapia for fishmeal production, aiming to swiftly remove the species from the ecosystem. To date, over 1,100,000 kilograms have been purchased, with efforts ongoing.
2. Assisting the government and local communities by releasing 200,000 predatory fish, including 70,000 seabass, which have already been distributed to government agencies and communities in several provinces.
3. Collaborating with the government, communities, and civil society to organise fish-catching activities by providing fishing equipment and manpower. CP Foods has supported 30 such events in 14 provinces, resulting in the capture of over 25,000 kilograms of Blackchin tilapia.
4. Developing food products from Blackchin tilapia in collaboration with educational institutions.
5. Engaging in research with experts to explore long-term population control methods for Blackchin tilapia, in cooperation with both domestic and international institutions.