Commission lifts ‘yellow card’ from Thailand for its actions against illegal fishing

Summary:

The European Commission announced on 8 January 2019 the decision to delist Thailand from the group of 'warned countries' as recognition of its progress in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

Further information:

Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 (the so-called IUU Regulation) allows access onto the EU market only to fisheries products that have been certified as legal by the flag State concerned. When flag States are unable to certify their products, the Commission starts a process of cooperation and assistance with them to help improve their legal frameworks. The milestones of this process are the warnings (yellow cards), the green cards if issues are solved and the red cards if they aren’t – the latter leading to a trade ban.

The decision to lift the 'yellow card' - in place since April 2015 - followed the acknowledgement that Thailand had successfully addressed shortcomings in its fisheries legal and administrative systems.

Official

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 08/01/2019: Questions and Answers - Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in general and in Thailand http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-19-201_en.htm

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News

Reuters, 08/01/2019: Activists warn of gaps as EU lifts ban threat on Thai fishing industry https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1P21GS

Bangkok Post, 08/01/2019: EU withdraws ban threat on Thai fisheries after reforms https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1607574/eu-withdraws-ban-threat-on-thai-fisheries-after-reforms

EurActiv, 09/01/2019: Thailand welcomes EU decision to lift warning on illegal fishing https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/thailand-welcomes-eu-decision-to-lift-warning-on-illegal-fishing/

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