COUNCIL OF EUROPE CALLS FOR MEMBER STATES TO BAN SEAL IMPORTS

Friday, November 17, 2006

Earlier today, the Council of Europe meeting in San Marino passed a recommendation concerning seal hunting which included calls to end all cruel hunting methods (such as the hakapik) and that members and observers should ‘promote initiatives aimed at prohibiting the import and marketing of seal-derived products.’

’The Council of Europe’s decision is another blow to Canada as it highlights the extreme cruelty of the seal hunt in a very large and influential forum.’ said Mark Glover, Campaigns Director for Respect for Animals and the Humane Society International in the UK

‘The Canadian government has gone to great lengths to pull the wool over the eyes of the world but the truth is out. The Canadian seal hunt is the largest, most barbaric slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. It is driven by the trade in seal fur and those countries which still allow the import of seal products - which includes Britain - have the blood of the seals on their hands.’

The agenda for today’s meeting can be found at:

http://assembly.coe.int/Sessions/2006/Agenda/EAgenda061117.pdf

Links are provided under item 16 to the working documents that were discussed. All the amendments were passed.

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