PHNOM PENH, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission's proposed ban on fish imports from Cambodia would cause no harm to the country's fish exports since it has never sold fish to European countries, a Cambodian fisheries chief said Wednesday.

"The sanctions, announced by the European Commission on Tuesday, do not affect Cambodia's fish exports at all," Nao Thuok, director-general of the Fisheries Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, told Xinhua. "Cambodia has never exported fish to Europe because of stringent standards."

The Southeast Asian nation annually exports some 20,000 tones of maritime and fresh water fish to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Australia and Russia, he said, adding that the annual turnover from fish exports is about 40 million U.S. dollars.

However, Nao Thuok acknowledged that the ban would spoil Cambodia's reputation.

EU's proposed ban came after foreign fishing vessels bearing Cambodian flag have illegally fished in international waters and sold fish to the EU, he said.

Nao Thuok's comments came a day after the European Commission proposed that European Union member countries ban fish imports from Cambodia, saying the country has failed to take action on illegal fishing.

A decision on the proposal by the 28 members of the EU is expected in January, and the ban will begin in February.

Source: Xinhua