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The European Commission has proposed concrete measures to
ban the trade of seal products within, into and from the EU.
A draft EU regulation has been adopted by the Commission
which aims to ensure that products derived from seals killed
in inhumane ways are excluded from the European market. Trade
in seal products would only be allowed where guarantees can
be provided that the animals did not suffer unnecessarily.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas explained - "Seal
products from countries which practice hunting methods that
involve unnecessary pain and suffering must not be allowed
to enter the EU. The EU is committed to upholding high standards
of animal welfare."
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), seals
can be killed by a number of methods that do not cause avoidable
pain, distress and suffering.
Under the proposed regulation, in countries where seal hunting
continues, a certification scheme would be established - coupled,
if necessary, with a distinctive label or marking, which would
ensure that seal products are clearly certified as coming
from a country meeting strict conditions.
Existing EU legislation prohibits the import of skins of
whitecoat pups of harp seals and of pups of hooded seals into
the EU under the Seal Pups Directive. Seals are also protected
under the Habitats Directive.
The proposed ban will also harmonise rules on the trade of
seal products in the EU, which currently vary from country
to country. The proposal will now be submitted to the European
Parliament and to Council for approval.
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