The European Parliament has adopted a proposal by South-East England’s Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas designed to halt the annual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals in Canada and Russia.
Written Declarations rarely receive the support of sufficient MEPs to become the parliament’s official policy – but with 373 signatures lodged the call for a seal fur import ban has done so two weeks ahead of its parliamentary deadline.
Dr Lucas said: “This is fantastic news, which brings us a significant step closer to ending the cruel and entirely unnecessary slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals in Canada and Russia every year. I am delighted that a majority of MEPs from all political groups and EU member nations have agreed that this barbaric practice must be ended – and the onus is now on the European Commission to act immediately, as MEPs have demanded, before next year’s hunt.”
“An important step – said Massimo Pradella, Chairman OIPA International – thanks also to OIPA online petition to all the Members of the European Parliament, urging them to sign it. Every year hundreds of thousands of seals pups – most just a few weeks old – are clubbed on the ice floes or shot from moving boats as they attempt to flee. Many are skinned alive”.
The declaration calls for the European Commission to immediately ban the trade in seal body parts and products – a ban already adopted in Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Croatia and the US, and under consideration by the Council of Europe.