3 March 2009

EU closer to total ban on Canadian seal products

THe following is excerpted from the March 3rd edition of "globeandmail.com".

The European Union took another step toward a ban on Canadian seal products yesterday as a parliamentary committee rejected a proposal to label the products instead.

A vote by the EU parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee endorsed a bill that would ban the import of all seal products to the 27-member union. It voted 25-7 in favour of the ban.

The same bill granted an exemption to Canada's Inuit to continue to trade seal products "for cultural, educational or ceremonial purposes."

The decision drew immediate reaction from those for and against Canada's East Coast hunt, which is the largest in the world. Over the past three years, the total allowable catch has been set at between 270,000 and 335,000 seals annually.

"I'm very disappointed that elected officials in Europe are going against World Trade Organization rulings and legal opinions," said Rob Cahill of the Canadian Fur Institute. "It's not over, but I think this is a real setback."

Mr. Cahill said it was clear that years of lobbying by anti-sealing and animal-rights groups in North America and Europe had gained traction with politicians...

Meanwhile, those opposed to the hunt were heralding the news as a strong indication the battle is being won...

She said the committee vote "will carry a lot of weight" when the EU assembly votes on a bill, which could come as early as April.

To become law, the bill must be approved by the entire EU assembly and EU governments.

The committee decision follows an intense lobbying effort in recent weeks by Canadian politicians looking to persuade the European body that the commercial harp seal hunt is humane...

Federal officials have estimated an EU ban would chop half the annual value of the hunt, which currently stands at $13-million.

Nordic EU countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland have opposed such a ban, and legal experts say it could violate world trade rules. Seals are also hunted in Namibia, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

British legislator Diana Wallis, who is drafting the EU assembly bill, had recommended the tough labelling rules - instead of a ban - to ensure that sealing countries adhere to EU animal welfare rules. But members of her committee rejected her compromise and opted for the ban.

She warned such a ban could lead to legal problems under world trade rules.

Several EU nations, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, have their own bans on all seal products.

The United States has banned Canadian seal products since 1972.

Mr. Cahill said he hoped many of the countries which hunt seals would come forward during the next step in the EU's process to help keep the bill from passing.

In fact, EU members, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland, have opposed a ban...