The strategy behind the body's establishment is to mitigate and reduce bans and other controversy originating from countries with restrictive standards looking to import shrimp and other seafood from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Although the standards of exporter and importer countries overlap at times, these signify a bigger expense for shrimp farmers, argued Somying Piumsombun, general director of the Fisheries Department, the Bangkok Post reports.

"They have to change their production practices to comply with those standards, a move that erodes their export competitiveness," she said.

She stated that ASEAN countries have contributed significantly to the international shrimp industry; their production standards meet the requirements set by the international market.

To cite an example, Somying said, the shrimp farming industry in Thailand adheres to its government’s rules. These standards are equivalent to America’s Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC) requirements.

"The Thai shrimp industry had in the past suffered from nitrofuran residues, but we later solved the problem with a lot of improvements and effort," she said.

Stricter standards set by importing countries are often veiled defensive measures designed to safeguard national seafood markets, as opposed to only being meant to protect consumers’ health, Somying believes. Indeed, the outcome may result in higher import prices, she explained.

The ASA’s new guidelines may be a long time coming, but this week’s two-day ASA forum discussions held in Bangkok bred favourable results.

ASEAN member states - largely represented by dominant shrimp producers and exporters such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia - founded the ASA in 2007.

The aforementioned countries have transformed the continent into the globe's leading global shrimp producer. The region accounts for almost 85 per cent of the world’s shrimp, sold mostly to the US, the European Union (EU) and Japan.

Last year Thailand produced 500,000 tonnes of shrimp, of which 90 per cent was exported for BHT 80 billion (EUR 1.68 billion)

In spite of low rejection rates, importer countries have been devising stricter health standards and non-tariff barriers over the past five years.