EU demands Thailand address slavery in its seafood industry

RAF CASERT, Associated Press


BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union warned Thailand on Friday that it should "promptly" address the human rights and slavery issues that have dogged its seafood industry if it wants to stave off an EU seafood import ban.

Several investigative reports by The Associated Press focused on slavery in the seafood industry and resulted in the rescue of 2,000 men this year, highlighting longstanding abuses in Thai fisheries.

Thailand is a major exporter of seafood, with yearly revenues of almost 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion), and an EU ban would seriously affect the industry.

EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said even though the 28-nation bloc was primarily assessing Thailand's improvements in stamping out illegal fishing, there was no sidestepping the slavery issue.

Thailand, the world's third-largest seafood exporter, was given a warning by the EU in April to improve its fisheries practices or face an export ban to the wealthy European bloc. Annual Thai fish exports to the EU are estimated to be worth between 575 million and 730 million euros ($624 million to $792 million).

"We are still assessing whether Thailand has made sufficient progress in delivering on the actions" it was asked to take in April, Vella told reporters Friday.

"Regarding human rights, slavery on board and so on — yes, apart from the fishing issues, the Commission also believes that Thailand should also address promptly the human rights issues," he replied to a question from the AP.

The EU wants nations to be able to track their vessels and make sure they declare their catches to promote sustainable fishing and counter overfishing. The Commission is not expected to make a ruling on the Thai issue until late next month.

Vella spoke during a visit from Ghanean Fisheries Minister Sherry Ayittey, who noted that her nation was once penalized with such a ban.

"It was like a wake-up call," Ayittey said. "It was necessary. It helped us to reshape our own governance of the fisheries sector."

Beyond illegal fishing though, Thailand also faces the slavery issue.

In the U.S., Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, wrote to the Labor Department and the Food and Drug Administration this week demanding investigations after the AP investigated the shrimp peeling industry as well.

"I am deeply concerned for the welfare of adult and children shrimp peelers in Thailand, who are forced to work in one of the most abhorrent slavery schemes of the 21st century," he wrote.

Grocery and seafood organizations, meanwhile, say suppliers have to take responsibility for eliminating labor abuses in the fishing industry.

"In the case of the Thai shrimp industry, this means that simple audits and inspections of third-party shrimp peeling houses will not suffice, as corrupt police and inspectors turn a blind eye to abuses," said John Sackton in a report for Progressive Grocer.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-19

Just give them the red card. Only thing they understand. Is loss of revenue.

Just give them the red card. Only thing they understand. Is loss of revenue.

I second the motion!

"audits and inspections of third-party shrimp peeling houses will not suffice, as corrupt police and inspectors turn a blind eye to abuses,"

They're quite aware of the way the systems work and why nothing get's done here!

Blood diamonds in Africa, and now blood prawns in Thailand ... both should be banned !

For the 5th time, this is your last warning. So says the gutless EU, which is really only interested in making its own fishery industry more competitive.

Flight downgrade from the US. Food downgrade from the EU. How many planes can China land in Thailand? And how many packages of shrimp can the Chinese eat? I think we're about to find out.

Just give them the red card. Only thing they understand. Is loss of revenue.

I second the motion!

Agreed! But if you really think about it would it hurt Thailand as much as they think it would? I shipping to EU is stopped Thailand would off it all to China who doesn't care about such issues.

Thailand has been using slavery conditions for far too long to change as quickly as Europe and other western countries want and nobody understands Thailand or thainess nor do they see other nearby Asians as equals.

Wasn't there a statement only a few days ago that it has all been sorted ?

Sorted of course could have different meanings to different people and most certainly the EU's version will be wrong and unfair.

Flight downgrade from the US. Food downgrade from the EU. How many planes can China land in Thailand? And how many packages of shrimp can the Chinese eat? I think we're about to find out.

enough....and if Myanmar leans more to the USA Thailand can replace their shrimps for the Chinese market.

Beside USA needs Thailand the same as Thailand needs the USA.

one more last chance

For the 5th time, this is your last warning. So says the gutless EU, which is really only interested in making its own fishery industry more competitive.

agreed. Nothing will happen. Its just talk and showing face.

Edited December 19, 201510 yr by carstenp

Flight downgrade from the US. Food downgrade from the EU. How many planes can China land in Thailand? And how many packages of shrimp can the Chinese eat? I think we're about to find out.

enough....and if Myanmar leans more to the USA Thailand can replace their shrimps for the Chinese market.

Beside USA needs Thailand the same as Thailand needs the USA.

Let's hope it all works out well.

How many warnings do they get? Aviation, fishing, human traficking, the list goes on and they will NOT do much about it until "forced" to ...

The EU will do nothing. I see no evidence of them taking any meaningful action on the slavery issue. To me this is supporting slavery but I guess there is some diplomatic way to justify it.

I would really like to be able to support Thailand without having such practices dragging them down.

EU demands Thailand address slavery in its seafood industry

Thailand addresses Slavery:

"Dear Slaves, Welcome to Thailand!"

demands met.

Grow a set and ban their products , Thais dont tell the truth, they tell you what you want to hear.

The more pressure the better. So far, no big fish have been arrested. Only one general down south, and the policeman in charge of that is now in hiding in Australia!

For the 5th time, this is your last warning. So says the gutless EU, which is really only interested in making its own fishery industry more competitive.

Does that excuse what is happening here in Thailand? I think not

The EU will not do anything full of hot air. Shrimp from Thailand tastes too good to ban it and is nice and cheap.

Ban it and stop paying for it is the only way to resolve it but that will never happen.

The more pressure the better. So far, no big fish have been arrested. Only one general down south, and the policeman in charge of that is now in hiding in Australia!

That policeman hiding in OZ is asking for political asylum

Edited December 19, 201510 yr by chainarong

we warn you and we really, really mean it! if you do it again we will really, really, really warn you!

an EC seafood ban would be a shame since thai airways wasn't barred from flying there and could be loading their planes with shrimp.

Just give them the red card. Only thing they understand. Is loss of revenue.

I second the motion!

Agreed! But if you really think about it would it hurt Thailand as much as they think it would? I shipping to EU is stopped Thailand would off it all to China who doesn't care about such issues.

Thailand has been using slavery conditions for far too long to change as quickly as Europe and other western countries want and nobody understands Thailand or thainess nor do they see other nearby Asians as equals.

When you look at the state of the Thai economy now, and the outlook for the next 5-7 years, I think it would be one of the many factors that likely cripple Thailand.

China's not going to up their fish budget by the amount that Thailand sells pre-red card. If they bought any more at all, they would be in reno on the price because of the glut in the market

I vote red card. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of people.

Edited December 19, 201510 yr by onetime

we warn you and we really, really mean it! if you do it again we will really, really, really warn you!

And after that we will give you one last chance, well we think we can......

Flight downgrade from the US. Food downgrade from the EU. How many planes can China land in Thailand? And how many packages of shrimp can the Chinese eat? I think we're about to find out.

enough....and if Myanmar leans more to the USA Thailand can replace their shrimps for the Chinese market.

Beside USA needs Thailand the same as Thailand needs the USA.

This not about Myanmar exporting seafood, it is Thailand's seafood industry, and that fact that they have been warned several times to fix the issues or face ban's.

Well as per usual they think they can just smile and tweak things rather than fix the problem as with MANY MANY other issues facing the country that it will be ok and business as usual, well that's no longer the case now is it. BTW just how is it that the "USA needs Thailand the same as Thailand needs the USA", I very much think not, but more likely a case of mutual benefit rather than need.

About time as they say there arev no slaves here!!

Remember a week ago we were shown a picture of women lying about on a filthy floor peeling shrimp with no head gear. Suddenly we see a photo of smiling happy Burmese wearing brand new white caps and standing & peeling shrimp on a stainless bench. . Overseen by a bored and smiling BIB. That was quick !!!!!!! And of course it wont last. When the media and cops lose interest (paid off) business will return the way its always been .

You wonder how much human hair ,snot and ticks/fleas have dropped into the shrimp over the years. Health standards here are atrocious except in food factories owned by Japanese and farangs.

If US and Euro importers were to inspect Bangkok food markets and see all these filthy dogs and rats running about everywhere they would probably consider cancelling their orders and getting on the first plane out of BKK.

No-one takes any notice of the laws in this country. Its too corrupt. No-one cares anymore.

I guess the EU does not read ThaiVisa. A report yesterday clearly stated the NCPO had ordered a "crackdown" on slavery in the seafood industry and we all know when Thailand officials order a crackdown that whatever they are cracking down on is clean up in no time...555...right! I'm dreaming again.

Good on you EU!

Just give them the red card. Only thing they understand. Is loss of revenue.

Absolutely agree. And even then a real solution to the problem will remain elusive.