Eurolink News

EU plans to limit trade in seal products (23/7/08)

July 23, 2008 at 5:31 pm Leave a comment

Animal welfare groups in Ireland have welcomed a proposal from the European Commission to ban the import of products from seals that have been killed inhumanely. The draft regulation, which must be approved by MEPs and member states before it becomes law, states that trade in seal products should only be allowed where guarantees can be provided that the animal did not suffer unnecessarily.
Up to 900,000 seals are killed worldwide each year, with the majority of seal-hunting carried out in Canada, Greenland and Namibia. The methods used to kill seals vary widely, and include shooting, beating with clubs, and trapping. Reports by environmentalists and by the European Food Safety Authority have highlighted frequent instances of inhumane killings, where seals are skinned or bled while still conscious, or else drowned by being trapped underwater.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a statement, ‘Seal products from countries which practice hunting methods that involve unnecessary pain and suffering must not be allowed to enter the EU.’ Under the planned regulation, a certification scheme would be set up in seal-hunting countries, along with a distinctive labelling system to ensure that the country of origin meets strict conditions.
Brendan Price, spokesperson for the Irish Seal Sanctuary, warned that while any move towards minimising the suffering of seals is welcome, the proposed law would be difficult to monitor or enforce. ‘We would question how realistic it would be to find an independent monitor to establish which seal hunts are humane,’ he said. He added that although Irish MEPs have endorsed a petition to ban the importation of seal products, the Irish government seems to be turning a blind eye to the issue. ‘Eurostat figures provided by the Departments of Environment and Trade show that between 1,200 and 1,400 seal pelts are imported into Ireland each year,’ said Mr Price. ‘We’re still waiting on an answer as to how the government, particularly Environment Minister John Gormley, can stand over this.’

Entry filed under: Animals and the EU. Tags: .