April 2, 2009
At a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives last Friday, March 27, the 27 European Union nations revealed their positions on a proposal to prohibit trade in seal products.
The Czech Republic Presidency confirmed that currently, a qualified voting majority exists in the Council, in support of a total ban on trade in seal products. Humane Society International applauds all supporting nations for backing the complete ban.
The Qualified Voting Majority is needed at the Council level for the proposal to become law and the COREPER show of support for a ban was an important milestone.
Weeks from now, the European Parliament will hold a historic vote on the proposal, a final step in the legislative process.
"Europeans have called for a prohibition on trade in seal products for decades," said Mark Glover, director of HSI UK. "The positive indication from today's meeting means the EU has moved one step closer to this important goal."
Polling shows the overwhelming majority of Canadians support the European Union prohibiting its trade in seal products, and opposes the Canadian government's using tax dollars to lobby against the proposed ban. Yet several Member States have reported aggressive lobbying against the proposed European legislation by the Canadian government—in direct opposition to the will of Canadians—in the lead-up to this critical meeting.
World opinion condemns trade in seal products. In recent weeks:
- The Russian government announced a complete ban on slaughter of seals less than one year old;
- In Canada, Senator Mac Harb introduced a historic bill that would end the commercial seal hunt; and
- In the United States, a resolution has been introduced in the Senate calling on the Canadian government to end the commercial seal hunt, and urging the European Union to pass an unconditional prohibition on trade in seal products.
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