BRUSSELS, Belgium — January 26, 2015 — The European Union blacklisted Sri Lanka Monday for failing to combat illegal fishing, officially banning imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka-flagged vessels into the EU.
Officials said the decision to put Sri Lanka on the list was taken by EU fisheries ministers at their regular talks in Brussels.
Sri Lanka is the second biggest exporter of swordfish and tuna into the EU. The bloc said it only accepts stocks caught at sustainable levels and certified as legal by the exporting country.
The EU already warned Sri Lanka about breaking international rules on illegal fishing in November 2012.
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