(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2008)0469),

–   having regard to Article 251(2) and Articles 95 and 133 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6-0295/2008),

–   having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

–   having regard to its declaration on banning seal products in the European Union(1),

–   having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 24 April 2009 to adopt the proposal as amended, in accordance with the first indent of the second subparagraph of Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Rules 51 and 35 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the opinions of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0118/2009),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ C 306 E, 15.12.2006, p. 194.

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position at first reading corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009.)