In what appears to be a mitigated decision, the World Trade Organization appeal body has upheld the European Union decision to ban seal pelts, oil, and meat on moral grounds.
The ruling today by the WTO Appelate Body will further harm a sealing industry in Canada that has been diminishing for years. This is mostly due to a successful campaign by animal rights activists who insist the hunt is inhumane, a claim strongly denied by Canada.
Although the Canadian government set the limit for the seal hunt this year at 400,000 animals, estimates are that fewer than 55,000 seals have been killed by hunters as the season nears an end.
In the decision to uphold the EU ban however, the WTO also agreed with one of Canada’s arguments that exemptions to the ban are unfairly applied, in that Canada and Norway are not given the same market access for seal products as those from Greenland.
In a press release today the Canadian government said, “We are pleased that today’s decision by the WTO Appellate Body confirms what we have said all along, namely that the EU’s seal regime is arbitrarily and unjustifiably applied and is therefore inconsistent with the EU’s obligations. The WTO Appellate Body confirmed that the EU measure violates its international obligations and has ordered the EU to bring itself into compliance.”
Canada also disputes claims the hunt in inhumane saying, “.. the eastern and northern seal harvests are humane, sustainable and well-regulated activities that provide an important source of food and income for coastal and Inuit communities. The ban on seal products adopted in the European Union was a political decision that has no basis in fact or science.”
The federal government says it will be monitoring how the E 28 member European Union brings itself into compliance with the WTO ruling.
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