April 4, 2012

Protect Seals: Europe

Humane Society International/Europe

HSI/Europe is a leading force in the global campaign to end commercial seal slaughters.

EU seal trade product ban

After a long-running campaign by HSI and our supporters throughout Europe, the European Union introduced a Regulation prohibiting trade in products of commercial seal slaughters.

This historic piece of legislation, which entered into force in 2010, closed down one of Canada’s largest markets for seal products and contributed to a dramatic reduction in the number of harp seals slaughtered. In 2011, fewer than 38,000 harp seals were killed compared with more than 350,000 in 2006.

Closing markets

In addition to the European Union, the United States, Mexico and Croatia also have trade restrictions on seal products in place.

In 2009, Russia effectively ended its commercial seal hunt, with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin describing sealing as a “bloody” business. This was followed, in 2011, with the announcement that the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan had prohibited the import and export of fur from harp seals.

Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement

Canada is seeking a lucrative trade deal with the European Union while at the same time trying to undermine the EU’s right to ban products of cruelty by challenging its historic seal trade product ban at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) is worth billions of dollars to the Canadian economy.

In June 2011, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution threatening to block ratification of CETA if Canada failed to withdraw its WTO challenge to the trade seal product ban.

Many Members of the European Parliament have spoken out on the issue, and more than 100 have signed an open letter to the Canadian government stating that the European Parliament should not support CETA until the challenge is withdrawn.

Canadian and European parliamentarians called on Canada to withdraw its challenge in November 2011. David Martin, Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, commented:

“As long as the Canadian government continues with its groundless WTO challenge against the EU prohibition on seal product trade, many members of the European Parliament are loath to ratify a free-trade agreement with Canada. Not only does Canada’s challenge at the WTO jeopardise a multibillion dollar trade deal with Europe, but it is a complete attack on European values and democratic processes.”

Canada’s WTO challenge

The Canadian government challenged the EU ban at the WTO in November 2009 and requested a dispute panel in February 2011 after consultations failed to resolve the matter.

Canadian legal experts estimate the cost of the WTO challenge to be about $10 million—more than 13 times the landed value of the 2011 seal slaughter.

European boycott of Canadian seafood

In 2005, the Protect Seals network launched a boycott of Canadian seafood until the seal slaughter ends.

Europe is a major market for Canadian seafood—with exports to the European Union contributing €250 million annually to the Canadian economy. The connection between the commercial fishing industry and the seal hunt gives consumers the world over the power to end this cruel slaughter of baby seals forever.

Take action

• Say thank you for saving seals: Tell the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan to stand firm on their bans.
• Urge the European Parliament to defend the seal product trade ban from Canada's WTO challenge.
• Tell Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call off the slaughter.

Help protect seals: Join the boycott!

• Sign the pledge to boycott Canadian seafood until the seal hunt ends.
• Find out which restaurants in Europe have already joined the boycott of Canadian seafood.

Chef or restaurant owner?

• Join the boycott of Canadian seafood! View a list of restaurants in Europe that have already signed and then download the pledge for chefs and businesses [PDF].

Donate

• Donate in £ sterling or euros to support our efforts.

Spread the word

• Join our Stop the Hunt Cause on Facebook.

Learn more

• Why boycott? Get the facts.
• Learn more about the slaughter and why we're campaigning to end it.
• Read the latest Protect Seals news from our teams in Canada and around the world.
• Find out more about the European Union seal product trade ban.