The European Commission will be sending an inspection mission to a seal hunt in Canada, it announced Thursday, after dismissing calls for an EU-wide ban on the import of seal products.
CTV.ca News Staff
Under pressure from the European Parliament, which demands an immediate moratorium on seal products, the commission also ordered a study to assess the welfare of seals.
Many EU legislators have blasted what they see as inhumane hunting tactics used to kill seal pups for their skins.
However, the European Commission said Thursday "there is no scientific evidence'' of serious damage as a result of seal hunting.
"There must be a proper impact study before any action can be taken,'' EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told the European Parliament.
"If it is established seals are hunted in an inhuman way, a ban on export and the marketing of seal products will be considered.''
The EU head office has said a 1983 EU law that outlines limited bans on the import of fur taken from seal pups "provides adequate response'' to the concerns of the European Parliament.
EU rules ban seal products from harp seals less than 12 days old and on hooded seals less than one year old.
The Commission said the population of seals in Canada's Arctic and Atlantic regions "has grown significantly'' in the last three decades from just under two million to 5.8 million harp seals alone.
The Commission also said that the seals were not listed as endangered species and that their population is not under threat.
But legislators have said the EU's inaction was hypocritical as it seeks a separate ban on all imports of dog and cat fur into the 27-member bloc.
British Conservative John Bowis said the Canadian seal hunts were "not worthy of a civilized country,'' while Swedish Green Carl Schlyter said "appalling suffering'' was inherent in seal hunting.
Belgium has introduced a total ban on the import of all seal products into the country, becoming the first EU country to do so. Italy and Luxembourg have introduced temporary bans.
Meanwhile, Canadians were expected to mark the international day of protest against the seal hunt in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton, among others.
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15.03.2007 19:56
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