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The European Union has imposed a temporary ban on imports of Malaysian fish products for failing to meet its standards, a Malaysian newspaper reported today.

A Malaysian fisheries department official said the decision was made after EU veterinary and food officials conducted a test on agencies involved in approving the export of fish products from Malaysia.

It was not clear what tests were made, but earlier media reports had said EU officials visiting Malaysia last year found that some local seafood companies exporting to Europe did not meet EU health standards.

"As a result of the test, all the relevant agencies were unable to give an official guarantee that the control of exports and fish products would at least meet EU standards," unaidi Che Ayub was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.