European Import Ban on Seal Products Now a Step Closer
2 March 2009
As harp seal pups are being born on the ice floes off Canada’s east coast,
and seal hunters are preparing for another commercial-scale slaughter at
the end of this month, Respect for Animals welcomes the vote which paves
the way for a full Parliamentary vote on the seal trade issue in the very
near future.
The committee rejected a report by Liberal Democrat MEP, Diana Wallis (Yorkshire & the
Humber). Wallis’ report proposed certification and labelling of seal products,
an option branded “unenforceable” by other MEPs, many of whom have called for
an unconditional ban on the trade in all seal products.
Nicki Brooks, director of Respect for Animals, said today: “The vote today has
shown that Parliamentarians have listened to the concerns of the citizens of
Europe, the majority of whom want to see a full, unconditional ban on the trade
in all seal products.
“The annual commercial kill that takes place in Canada, every March, is the largest
slaughter of marine mammals on the planet - over one million seal pups have been
clubbed or shot to death over the last four years alone. Legislation stopping
the trade across Europe will close down markets for the pelts of these seal pups.”
Research by veterinarians has shown that the commercial slaughter of seal pups
is inherently inhumane.
In 2006, a record 425 MEPs voted for an end to commercial seal slaughter; in
July 2008, the European Commission issued a proposal to bring an end to the import
and trade in seal products across Europe.
A vote, by all MEPs in the full Parliament, is due to take place in April or
May this year. Respect for Animals is encouraging people to sign a petition
in support of a full ban at: http://www.bansealtrade.eu Further
information on the campaign can be found at: http://www.respectforanimals.org