European Union Makes History by Banning Trade in Seal Products

[Omaha Steve]

Source: COMTEX

STRASBOURG, France, May 5, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Humane Society International congratulated the European Parliament for voting overwhelmingly in favour of a strong ban on trade in seal products.

"Today's vote in the European Parliament marks a historic victory in the campaign to stop the commercial slaughter of seals around the world," said Mark Glover, director of Humane Society International/UK. "The European Union has acted on behalf of its citizens, and its decision will save millions of seals from a horrible fate."

"The European Union has made history by ending its trade in seal products," said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Humane Society International/Canada. "This ban spells the beginning of the end of Canada's globally condemned seal slaughter."

The Parliament voted for a strong Regulation that will eliminate the placing of seal products on the EU market, closing a primary market for Canada's commercial seal hunt. The Council and Commission have already agreed to the text, making Tuesday's plenary vote the final step in achieving the regulation. In light of the overwhelming vote in favour of the agreed upon regulation by the Parliament, the regulation will go into effect in 2010.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/european-union-makes-history-banning/story.aspx?guid={0C4B6B19-72BF-4737-A2FD-5829A03EDCE8}&dist=msr_1

[northofdenali]

1. I disagree with my close neighbor, Canada, on very little.

Seal hunts being one issue that, to me, was a deal-breaker in being invited to move to YT in 1990. As much as I love my YT & BC neighbors, I hope this action by the EU brings a halt to this disgusting practice. I am what I hope is an ethical hunter and fisher; clubbing baby seals, shooting wolves/bears from the air (thank you Sarah Palin) etc. is NOT ethical. Period.

[iverglas]

4. too bad so many people are so woefully misinformed

... clubbing baby seals ...

Cut off your nose to spite your face, it seems, based on 22-year-old news.

There has been no "baby" seal hunt in Canada for that long.

The disinformation campaign seems to have done its job, though!

[tomm2thumbs]

2. but I love all his albums. Bummer

jk - good for the EU

[HeresyLives]

3. Seals are also hunted in

Norway, Namibia, Sweden, Finland, Russia...and the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_hunting