News and Analysis • Volume 8 • Number 6 • 4th April 2008

European Commission Considers Trade Sanctions Against Canadian Seal Imports

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Just ahead of Canada’s annual seal cull, Europe is considering imposing trade sanctions on seal products. In response to calls for action by the European Parliament, the Commission continues to look into the matter of “the inhumane killing of seals,” said a spokesperson for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. A report will be presented within the next few months on the issue.

Member of European Parliament David Martin said he supported imposing trade sanctions commenting that, “trade sanctions would help end commercial seal hunting, a cruel and brutal practice which targets seal pups only a few weeks old. In 2006, 32 percent of Canadian seal fur exports went to the EU. With an EU ban, Canadian sealers would be forced to think twice about their heartless hunt.”

A report has already been prepared by the European Food Safety Authority. It found that there was no evidence to support Canada’s claim that their seal hunt is humane. Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said, “this report reveals the truth about Canada’s commercial seal hunt, and destroys one of the greatest myths constantly propagated by the Canadian government.

The Canadian government defends their seal hunt and it is considered an “economic mainstay for numerous rural communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the North,” said Loyola Hearn, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Belgium and the Netherlands have already banned imports of seal products, and similar bans are being considered in Germany, Italy and Austria. The EU currently bans fur imports from white-coated pups. However, the European Parliament has called for a full ban on Canadian seal fur imports.

Canada lodged a complaint at the WTO dispute mechanism over the EU bans in September 2007 (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 5 October 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-10-05/inbrief.htm). They are currently in discussions on how to proceed, and may ask for the establishment of a panel to judge on the matter if they fail to reach agreement.

“EU to Issue Reports on Canada Seal Killing Soon,” Reuters, 27 March 2008; “We Must Help Ban This Cruel Fur Trade,” Western Mail, 1 April 2008; “Euro MP Backs Sanctions to Hit Seal Culling,” Scotsman, 28 March 2008; “EU Considers Action on ‘Inhumane’ Canadian Seal Killings,” Earth Times, 26 March 2008; “Canada Orders Sea Shepherd to Stay Away from Seal Hunt,” Environment News Service, 24 March 2008.