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European top court upholds EU ban on seal imports

Published 2015-09-03, 07:44 a/m
© Reuters. European top court upholds EU ban on seal imports

BRUSSELS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A European Union ban on imports
of seal products not derived from the traditional Inuit seal
hunt is legal, the 28-nation bloc's top court ruled on Thursday.
The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice rejected an
appeal brought by an association representing the interests of
Canadian Inuits - Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami - and seal product
manufacturers against a ruling from a lower court in 2013.
"By today's judgement, the Court dismisses the appeal in its
entirety," the Court said in a statement.
The association of Canadian Inuits had disputed the legality
of the ban on the grounds that its objective - the protection of
animal welfare - was not an exclusive competence of the EU.
The EU ban, which arose over concerns of brutality in the
seal hunt, has been challenged by Canada and Norway in the past.
Canada's main seal hunt takes place in March and April on
ice floes off the Atlantic Coast and in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. The seals are usually shot or bludgeoned over the head
with a spiked club called a hakapik.
The Human Society, an animal protection group, said it was
"overjoyed" by the ruling.
"It is time for the sealing industry to finally realise that
this landmark legislation, which enjoys the support of millions
of EU citizens, is here to stay," said Joanna Swabe, executive
director of Humane Society International/Europe.
Seal products include fur for clothing and oil that is used
in vitamin supplements.

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