Proposed EU Ban on Imports of Seal Products

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HSI and The HSUS Applaud Announcement of Proposed EU Ban on Imports of Seal Products

 

Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States congratulate European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas for his recent statements that he will propose a ban on all seal products from inhumane hunts. Commissioner Dimas told Reuters late on Saturday that, "We will propose a ban of seal fur imports if (a country) can't prove they were obtained in a humane way." Right now, representatives from HSI and The HSUS are in the air documenting the kill. The footage over the past several days from the Newfoundland slaughter has been devastating. Video from the 2008 kill can be seen here.

 

 

 

 

 

(Media-Newswire.com) - Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States congratulate European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas for his recent statements that he will propose a ban on all seal products from inhumane hunts. Commissioner Dimas told Reuters late on Saturday that, "We will propose a ban of seal fur imports if ( a country ) can't prove they were obtained in a humane way." Right now, representatives from HSI and The HSUS are in the air documenting the kill. The footage over the past several days from the Newfoundland slaughter has been devastating. Video from the 2008 kill can be seen here. "We have concrete video evidence that this hunt has always been and will always be inherently inhumane," said Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs for Humane Society International-Canada. "The statement from Environment Commissioner Dimas that he would ban seal products from countries where seals suffer is welcome news because that is exactly what is happening in Canada. We have filmed seals who were shot and were still moving, crying in agony, clearly in pain and left for several minutes to suffer by the sealers. I saw sealers stabbing live conscious animals through the face with metal hooks, dragging them across the ice and tossing them into their boats. In one instance, a baby seal was clubbed 13 times, before sealers dragged her across the ice. If you are going to ban products from a hunt that is inhumane, Canada's commercial seal kill should be on top of that list." HSI and The HSUS are the only animal protection group still on the ice floes of Canada documenting numerous apparent violations of the marine mammal regulations and sealers failing to adhere to the supposed new three-step killing process. One of the best ways to end this slaughter is for the European Union to ban its trade in seal products effectively removing the financial incentive for the fishermen to conduct the hunt. "Europeans overwhelmingly want a ban on all seal product trade in the EU," said Mark Glover, director of Humane Society International-UK. "Only a comprehensive ban on seal product trade in the EU can stop the suffering I am witnessing right now in Canada." -30-Humane Society International ( HSI ) is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, a nonprofit organization founded in 1954, with 10.5 million supporters. HSI works to create a humane and sustainable world for all animals, including people, through education, support, and the promotion of respect and compassion. Our efforts include: Building capacity in developing countries for humane agricultural practices and wildlife and habitat protection initiatives; helping to control stray animal populations using humane methods; promoting more humane treatment of livestock and providing veterinary services for livestock and companion animals; combating the illegal wildlife trade; protecting endangered species and marine mammals; educating children and adults; strengthening organizations and governments; and conserving wildlife habitats. Additional information can be found at hsi.org