EXCLUSIVE-EU to propose ban on imports of seal products

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

By Gerard Wynn

BRDO, Slovenia, April 13 (Reuters) - The EU's environment chief Stavros Dimas will propose to ban imports of all seal products resulting from culls where animals suffer, he told Reuters, setting up a possible trade conflict with Canada.

Belgium and the Netherlands last year banned imports of seal products on their own, prompting Canada to launch a trade dispute with the EU as a whole in September. Both bans were the result of concern about cruel hunts.

"We will propose a ban of seal fur imports if (a country) can't prove they were obtained in a humane way," Dimas said late on Saturday on the fringes of an April 11-12 informal meeting of environment ministers in Slovenia.

When asked on the timing of a ban he said -- "It takes some time." The plan would need the backing of the rest of the EU's executive Commission, and would apply to all seal products including furs, skins and health products including vitamins.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL12630011

[Judi Lynn]

1. Not a moment too soon, either! Thank you, Omaha Steve. Hope it'll work. n/t

[EV_Ares]

2. This is such good news and exactly what needs to be done to get this

terrible slaughter stopped.

Thanks Steve for posting some good news here this morning to start the day out. I know this is not everything yet but it certainly is a very, very good start on ending it.

[flvegan]

3. Which explains the arrest of the Farley Mowat and crew

Can't have any documentation from the opposition that might be used to prove the hunt is inhumane. Also explains why they grounded HSUS.

Great news, though. Hope it goes through.

[Shoelace]

6. the HSUS isn't grounded - they've got live updates on their website

and in fact some good news to boot.

Because prices for the skin of a baby seal have fallen dramatically, and many sealers are choosing to stay home this year instead of heading for the ice floes. The manager from a top sealskin processor in Canada explained that buyers have been mindful of a potential EU ban on seal products when setting the low prices this year. Just the potential for an EU ban has brought the prices down low enough to stop two thirds of the sealing vessels from leaving port.

If the EU goes through with the ban, millions of animals will be spared a horrible fate. Our campaign is working. But while this hunt goes on, we will be here. Bearing witness to this cruel slaughter, gathering evidence to shut this hunt down for good. Please help pass the ban—sign the petition here.

http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/live_from_ice_032408.html

[Shoelace]

4. YES!!! Best news I've heard for so long. Email Dimas, encourage him

to do just what he is proposing, a total ban on all seal products save one important exception; "The EU would ensure that any ban didn't impact traditional hunting by the indigenous Inuit people, Dimas said."
Thanks so much Omaha Steve for posting this news, it give us hope for the first time in so long.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7458797

I have been encouraging people here and elsewhere to email Stavros Dimas, a man of conscience and environmental awareness, to encourage him to initiate this ban ASAP. It only takes a moment of your time and it's a good thing to do.

[e-mail]

Here's his web page and diary:

http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/dimas/

Also, for live reports from the ice, visit the US Humane Society's website and please do sign their petition.

http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/live_from_ice_032408.html

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Kick ass!!!

That is great news!!