EU blacklists Sri Lanka over illegal fishing, bans imports into bloc

The European Union has blacklisted Sri Lanka for failing to combat illegal fishing, officially banning imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka-flagged vessels into the EU.

Officials said Monday that 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.

The EU already warned Sri Lanka about breaking international rules on illegal fishing in November 2012.