European Union ready to ban seal skins

[Annces]

EU proposal takes aim at 'cruel' seal hunts
OLIVER MOORE

July 24, 2008

A European Union proposal restricting the trade of seal products would put the onus on other countries to prove that their regulations spare the animals "avoidable" pain or distress. Wording of the proposed ban, which must still be approved by member countries, was finalized and released yesterday by the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU.

"Seal products coming from countries which practice cruel hunting methods must not be allowed to enter the EU," Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment, told a news conference in Brussels.

The proposal did not define "cruel," but a spokeswoman for Mr. Dimas told The Globe and Mail recently that clubbing would likely be considered inhumane, raising the possibility that almost all Canadian seal products could be banned if that practice continues. The EU's proposed ban specifies that seal products can enter the European Union only under certain conditions. One is that they must come from "a country where, or by persons to whom, adequate legislative provisions or other requirements apply ensuring effectively that seals are killed and skinned without causing avoidable pain, distress and any other form of suffering."

Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs for Humane Society International/Canada, called the proposal a "historic step" and urged a sweeping ban.


The EU proposal notes that nearly 75,000 people responded to a call for online comment, and that most were in favour of a ban. The majority of respondents resided in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada."

full article
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080724.SEALS24/TPStory/National


Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd

“After more than four decades of fighting this brutal, savage and extremely cruel slaughter of seals on Canada’s Eastern coast, an incredible victory has been achieved with the proposed banning of seal pelts into European markets,” said Captain Paul Watson. “This will mean that seal products cannot be transshipped to Asia through European ports and since Europeans define global fashions, what is not in fashion in Paris and Rome will no longer be in fashion in China or Japan.”

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080723_1.html