Boost to IUU cooperation efforts ahead of return of inspectors from EU

[rooster59]

Boost to IUU cooperation efforts ahead of return of inspectors from EU

BANGKOK: THE CUSTOMS Department and Fisheries Department will sign a memorandum of understanding on Monday on tackling the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in order to give themselves two months to show progress before the European Union returns for another round of inspection in January.

The EU gave Thailand a yellow card in April for the country's failure to address the problem of IUU fishing, and is now considering whether to remove the card, maintain the Kingdom's status or slap it with a red card. The euro zone could decide to ban the import of fish from Thailand if the EU opted for the red-card scenario.

"The main agency in this issue is the Fisheries Department, with the Customs Department providing support, especially in terms of traceability. The main task is to make sure that we are able to trace back the fish in export cans all the way to where they were fished up, which vessel they arrived on and in what condition they arrived, such as whole, gutted, frozen or in pieces," said Kulit Sombatsiri, director-general of the Customs Department.

The fact that there is no import duty on fish imported by Thailand has led to the misfiling of types of fish and the condition in which they are arriving, he said, adding that this is one of the main concerns of the EU inspectors in regard to the smuggling in of illegal animals, he explained.

He said another matter of major concern was cooperation between the two agencies, which had been non-existent until now. "Some of the fish were filed as frozen when in fact they had arrived in pieces, while some came in as a whole but had been labelled as frozen, so all of this has to be regulated after the boats arrive," Kulit said.

"The Customs officers will work alongside Fisheries Department officers by providing the coordinates of where the fish are being caught, and to help inspect the type and condition of the fish before they are boxed and stamped.

"[This needs to be done] all the way to inspection at the fish-processing factories before the fish are packed and exported out, to make sure that when 10 fish come in, 10 fish will go out, not 10 come in and 15 go out, like before," he said.

The official also said his department was working on improving customs regulations and processes to make it easier for businesses to operate. This is in line with the government's policy focus on improving the ease of doing business in Thailand.

A detailed plan on the improvements will be provided to the |public before the end of the year, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Boost-to-IUU-cooperation-efforts-ahead-of-return-o-30271969.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-31

[FangFerang]

The EU will never issue a red card. Their butt buddies have way too much money on the table for that, as well as the Americans.