The European Union Threatens to Ban Thai Seafood Imports

[Jacob Maslow]

Thailand is facing a major issue with a potential seafood import ban from the European Union. The EU states that Thailand has not done enough to curb unregulated fishing and unreported fishing practices.

The ban would equal $600 million euros a year in lost revenue for the country.

The EU has given Thai authorities 6 months to correct the issue or risk an EU trade ban. Serious monitoring and control of fisheries in Thailand are the biggest concern, states Karmenu Vella, the EU Fisheries Commissioner. If the illegal fishing continues, serious consequences will follow.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has already acknowledged the EU deadline and states that the country is cracking down on illegal fishing. Prayut reaffirms that the government is doing everything in their power to correct the issues and views the deadline as a way to come to a resolution as swiftly as possible.

Vella states that the EU is willing to work closely with Thailand to help improve fishing regulations in the country and resolve the issue. The EU states that it is not within the interests of the EU or Thailand to impose trade restrictions and that a ban would only occur if no progress is made to curb illegal fishing practices.

-- 2015-04-22

[Local Drunk]

About time I guess... I generally hate the powers in the west that create political sanctions (and they are truly political sanctions) based on their cultures and ethics, without even trying to understand the culture and ethics of the nations that they impose the sanctions on. In this case I have to agree. Slavery is something that should be deplored internationally. For all of you lovers of democracy and who are antagonists against the current government, give them the same chance that you were willing to give to the Shins who did little but enrich themselves and friends in the name of democracy, because they did f*** all nothing to address the issue.

Edited April 22, 2015 by Local Drunk

[chainarong]

The requirements the EU has imposed on Thai Seafood producers is the same for all countries , these requirements are standard practice when importing fish products from Aus ,NZ , UK, whatever , overfishing , slave labour , monitoring and control these are all part of a bigger picture, that picture is to protect fish stock , , these Asian fishermen have completely wiped out their fishing grounds, one of the first to introduce fish farms were the Asians, in one respect they acknowledge the trouble on the other hand old fashioned out-dated thinking still rules the sea's, along with slavery and labour laws this is one industry that is going to be cleaned up even if another country gets it done, cause it sure isn't being addressed by Thai Administrators.

[selftaopath]

WAKE UP THAILAND - you're part of the global community (eventhough you seem like it doesn't exist).

[espinoza]

EU does not issue threats, they just tells Thailand what will happen if they not changes. They just states the facts.

[Nick167]

The EU are stupid hypocrites. Teh reality is that these idiots need thai seafood. Period. If there were so humane and really wanted to do something about the exploitation of human beings in the fishing industry and the seafood processing industry, they would have imposed a ban to make sure that rectifications are made. These EU garbage have no such balls.