At the bilateral meeting during an official visit to Qatar of Ms.Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, between 15 and                16 May 2012, the Prime Minister of Thailand requested Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al - Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of  Foreign Affairs of Qatar, to consider lifting the ban on imports of chicken   meat from Thailand, imposed since 2003 after the outbreak of  the Avian Influenza in Thailand.  The Prime Minister of Qatar, in response, agreed to lift the ban.

      On 7 June 2012, the joint meeting of relevant Qatari authorities organised by the Supreme Council of Health, Minister of Public Health  of Qatar, agreed to lift ban on Thai poultry imports, since the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) had confirmed that no avian flu virus was found in Thailand for more than a year.  On 10 June 2013, the Supreme Council of Health of Qatar confirmed to the Royal Thai Embassy in Doha that the lifting is in effect.                                                                                                                                                              

      In addition, exports of poultry from Thailand to Qatar must be in compliance with Standards set by the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO Standards), such as health standards and Halal standards.  Further information on the GSO Standards can be found  at www.gso.org.sa