EU to ban trade in 'cruelly' obtained seal fur
- added July 24, 2008
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- goldenways
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The outcry over horrific images of the clubbing and hunting of seals and their pups is behind new European Union proposals to ban the trade in "cruelly" obtained seal fur.
The move will deal a blow to Canada's centuries-old commercial harp seal hunt, which is worth over GBP16 million in exports. This year 275,000 harp seals were earmarked for slaughter.
Stavros Dimas, European Environment Commissioner, today announced plans EU ban on all seal products coming from countries that "practice cruel hunting methods".
"The images of seal hunting that circulate around the globe every year are a reminder of the oftentimes gruesome practices used to kill seals," he said.
"European citizens find this practice is repugnant and in contradiction to our standards of animal welfare."
None of the 15 seal species that are currently hunted is endangered but politicians across the EU have demanded action over claims that seals, shot or bludgeoned over the head with a spiked club known as a hakapik, are often skinned while still conscious.
Canada is expected to mount a legal world trade challenge to the EU ban after contesting similar legislation in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Loyola Hearn, Canada fisheries minister, has blamed "misinformation from anti-sealing organisations and extremist groups" on European public pressure for a ban.
Canada, Greenland and Namibia account for about 60 per cent of the 900,000 seals hunted each year, the rest are killed in Iceland, Norway, Russia, the United States, Sweden, Finland and Britain.
The move will deal a blow to Canada's centuries-old commercial harp seal hunt, which is worth over GBP16 million in exports. This year 275,000 harp seals were earmarked for slaughter.
Stavros Dimas, European Environment Commissioner, today announced plans EU ban on all seal products coming from countries that "practice cruel hunting methods".
"The images of seal hunting that circulate around the globe every year are a reminder of the oftentimes gruesome practices used to kill seals," he said.
"European citizens find this practice is repugnant and in contradiction to our standards of animal welfare."
None of the 15 seal species that are currently hunted is endangered but politicians across the EU have demanded action over claims that seals, shot or bludgeoned over the head with a spiked club known as a hakapik, are often skinned while still conscious.
Canada is expected to mount a legal world trade challenge to the EU ban after contesting similar legislation in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Loyola Hearn, Canada fisheries minister, has blamed "misinformation from anti-sealing organisations and extremist groups" on European public pressure for a ban.
Canada, Greenland and Namibia account for about 60 per cent of the 900,000 seals hunted each year, the rest are killed in Iceland, Norway, Russia, the United States, Sweden, Finland and Britain.
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- goldenways
- 28 days ago
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