EU regulation banning trade in seal products
22.7.2024
Priority question for written answer P-001393/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left)
Recently, a fitness check of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products was announced, partly in response to alleged concerns from a Member State regarding the interaction of seals and fisheries in the Baltic Sea.
The regulation originally included a marine resources management (MRM) exception to address concerns about the sustainable use of seals killed incidentally to protect fisheries, but the World Trade Organization (WTO) determined that this was neither justifiable nor necessary. Therefore, when the regulation was technically amended in 2015 to fully align it with WTO principles, the MRM exception was removed.
- 1.Is the Commission in agreement that the primary objective of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 is to address serious public moral concerns regarding the welfare of seals slaughtered by the sealing industry, and that the ban on placing commercial seal products on the market does not conflict with other national or EU rules regulating seal hunting?
- 2.Can the Commission confirm its commitment to upholding the ban on trade in seal products and to promoting the protection of seals and other marine mammals?
- 3.What measures is the Commission taking to promote humane coexistence with seals, the non-lethal prevention of conflicts and the mitigation of any perceived impact?
Submitted: 22.7.2024