The Council of the European Union has adopted the regulation to ban the trade of all seal products within the EU.
“There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment today after years of hard work,” said Lesley O’Donnell, director, IFAW EU, which has been working towards the seal ban for many years.
“Already this year we’ve seen how the prospect of the ban dampened the seal hunt and saved the lives of thousands of seals. Over the coming year we will closely monitor the implementation process until the ban comes into enforcement which should be during the summer of 2010. We expect the commercial seal hunt to continue its inevitable decline over the coming years until it is wiped out once and for all.”
The Canadian government has made it clear that it will continue to enthusiastically pursue trade negotiations with the EU over the coming months and years regardless of this trade ban.
The minute financial contribution of the seal hunt in Canada is more than offset by the indirect subsidies required and the costs incurred by the hunt. According to a Canadian government website the 2009 commercial seal hunt was worth less than 1 million Euro. In contrast, the Canadian government expects a Canada-EU trade deal to increase trade by 26 billion Euro.
Romania and Denmark abstained from voting. “Denmark and Romania have taken this opportunity to show that they would rather risk their good names than miss out on the possibility of profit,” said O’Donnell.
“Belgium was the first EU country take a stand on this abhorrent industry and without their bravery we likely would not have achieved this tremendous success today. IFAW supporters around the globe are thankful to Belgium and the people of Belgium for their vital role in hastening the demise of this antiquated and unnecessary business,” said O’Donnell.
“There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment today after years of hard work,” said Lesley O’Donnell, director, IFAW EU, which has been working towards the seal ban for many years.
“Already this year we’ve seen how the prospect of the ban dampened the seal hunt and saved the lives of thousands of seals. Over the coming year we will closely monitor the implementation process until the ban comes into enforcement which should be during the summer of 2010. We expect the commercial seal hunt to continue its inevitable decline over the coming years until it is wiped out once and for all.”
The Canadian government has made it clear that it will continue to enthusiastically pursue trade negotiations with the EU over the coming months and years regardless of this trade ban.
The minute financial contribution of the seal hunt in Canada is more than offset by the indirect subsidies required and the costs incurred by the hunt. According to a Canadian government website the 2009 commercial seal hunt was worth less than 1 million Euro. In contrast, the Canadian government expects a Canada-EU trade deal to increase trade by 26 billion Euro.
Romania and Denmark abstained from voting. “Denmark and Romania have taken this opportunity to show that they would rather risk their good names than miss out on the possibility of profit,” said O’Donnell.
“Belgium was the first EU country take a stand on this abhorrent industry and without their bravery we likely would not have achieved this tremendous success today. IFAW supporters around the globe are thankful to Belgium and the people of Belgium for their vital role in hastening the demise of this antiquated and unnecessary business,” said O’Donnell.
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