Animal welfare triumphs as European Commission proposes strengthening EU ban on seal product trade

The European Commission has today (10 February) proposed strengthening the European Union ban on seal product trade, closing previous loopholes and appearing to bring it into compliance with recommendations from the World Trade Organization. Humane Society International praised the Commission for defending animal welfare and public morality in the face of constant legal challenges from Canada and Norway. In 2014, following the latest such challenge by Canada and Norway, the WTO upheld the right of the EU to ban trade in seal products, but noted some inconsistencies in the exemptions in the ban. In response the EU Commission has proposed making the EU ban even stronger than it was before.

Dr. Joanna Swabe, EU executive director for Humane Society International/Europe, said: "We are delighted that the European Commission has so robustly defended animal welfare and public morality. This proposal not only improves the European Union ban on commercial seal products, but sends a strong message to Canada and Norway that the EU will not accept products of cruelty to animals. The proposed amendments also clarify an exemption regarding traditional Inuit hunts, and remove a pointless exemption for products of marine mammal management hunts.

"It appears that the WTO challenge of the EU ban by Canada and Norway may have backfired; the proposed amendments tighten loopholes to make it impossible for products of commercial seal hunts to reach the EU market. We strongly urge Members of the European Parliament and member states to respect the will of EU citizens and ensure that the Commission’s proposal is not watered down or weakened in any way."

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