European Union seal ban takes effect

'This about the right of Europeans to say no to products fom cruel hunts'

November 2010: A temporary suspension of the EU regulation banning the trade in seal products has now been revoked by the European Union's General Court, to the delight of wildlife campaigners, allowing the full implementation of this momentous legislation.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare which has run a 40-year-long campaign to end cruel seal hunting, said: ‘We are pleased that the court has made the right decision and lifted the suspension. This ban is about the right of Europeans to say no to products that stem from cruel and unnecessary hunts. IFAW will continue to work to defend this right and to defend the EU seal ban.'


The EU ban prohibits the trade in products from all commercial seal hunts, including those in Canada, Namibia and Norway, but does not affect sealing by Inuit and other indigenous peoples.

Lesley O'Donnell, IFAW's EU Director, said: ‘The applicants in the court case included most of the Canadian and Norwegian commercial sealing industry, and as such, had the suspension not ended there could be no guarantee to Europeans that they were not providing a market for products from cruel commercial seal hunts.'

IFAW opposes Canada's commercial seal hunt because of its unacceptable cruelty. The largest marine mammal hunt in the world sees seals being clubbed or shot, primarily so their fur can be used to provide luxury items for the fashion industry.

The EU will likely have to defend its seal ban at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Canada recently requested additional WTO consultations with the EU on the ban. The consultations are expected to take place before the end of the year.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/seal-product-ban.html