The European Union was satisfied with Thailand's progress in tackling illegal fishing but has not set a deadline for reviewing the country's "yellow card" status, according to a deputy prime minister.
However, a government source believes the result of the review will be known in six months.
EU officials have been in Thailand since Monday to follow up on the progress of tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing but have yet to indicate whether the outcome of the inspection is favourable for the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Gen Prawit met with Cesar Deben, principal adviser to the EU's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, on Friday.
"We've cooperated fully but it will take time to put into practice some of the EU's suggestions and for them to bear fruit," he said.
The fisheries emergency decree was promulgated on Nov 13 last year and the EU wanted Thailand to enforce it, especially on boats fishing outside Thai terrestrial waters, he said.
"If we ask these boats to return and they do not comply, we need to arrest them."
All seafood factories must not use child or slave labour and the government will take action against any violator, he added, adding the origins of all catches must also be accountable.
"The EU approved of what we have done and agreed the situation has drastically improved. However, we need to adopt international practices fully and sustainably," the general said.
The bloc, however, did not give the deadline for the review of the country's status.
Panitarn Wattanayakorn, his adviser, said while the EU was satisfied with Thailand's progress, it expected the country to speed up addressing the remaining issues over the next 3-4 weeks.
"We have a clear roadmap and a coordination team led by ambassador to the UN Veerachai Palasai.
"The EU has not set the date but we believe we still have time and will speed up addressing the remaining issues," he said.
Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said the EU had asked Thailand to address the problems in three areas.
First, all related laws must be enforced in earnest.
Second, sanctions are urged for non-compliance by operators of fishing boats, processing factories and products both by the government and consumers.
Third, Thailand should fully cooperate and send the signal to all sides.
Maj Gen Kongcheep added the EU also urged Thailand to look after all workers, not just those in the fishing industry, and to make a clear stand of not supporting non-compliant boats.
A source said this was the second time EU officials came to Thailand after it gave the country a yellow card. They will likely continue to come periodically until the next review in six months.
The EU in April last year gave Thailand the so-called yellow card when it warned Thailand for failing to crack down on illegal fishing, and threatened it with a trade ban if it did not take action.
The junta subsequently ordered a clean-up of the fishing industry, prompting some fishermen to go on strike to protest against what they said were unfair and unrealistic measures.
Thailand is the world's third-largest seafood exporter. Its annual exports to the EU are estimated to be worth between €575 million and €730 million ($641 million-$813 million), according to the Thai Frozen Foods Association.