Seal Product Ban Resolution Achieves Record Number of Signatories

18 September 2006

MONTREAL – The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International today congratulated the European Parliament for its historic level of support for Written Declaration #38, calling for a ban on the trade in harp and hooded seal products in the European Union. In all, 425 Members of the European Parliament endorsed the Declaration by the September 15th deadline—the highest number of signatories on any Written Declaration in the history of the European Parliament.

"This is the strongest level of support any Written Declaration has ever received in the history of the European Parliament," said Rebecca Aldworth, director Humane Society International/Canada. "It is a clear indication of the European Union's commitment to putting a final end to its trade in harp and hooded seal products." The Resolution is a crucial step in obtaining legislation, and specifically exempts products from traditional aboriginal hunters.

Although the Written Declaration had already achieved the 367 signatures needed for it to be formally adopted as a Resolution by September 7th, Members of the European Parliament continued to sign en masse until the official deadline of September 15th.

With more than one million seals killed in the past three years alone, Canada's commercial seal hunt is the world's largest slaughter of marine mammals. Independent veterinary experts who have studied the seal hunt in recent years have concluded it results in "considerable and unacceptable suffering". Scientists argue current kill levels pose a threat to seal populations, particularly in light of the pending devastating impacts of climate change on these ice dependent animals.

A large number of European journalists, parliamentarians and scientists have observed Canada's commercial seal hunt in recent years, and several European countries, including Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have taken steps to ban seal products. They join Mexico and the United States, which have banned all trade in marine mammal products. Public opinion polls consistently show high levels of European opposition to commercial seal hunting.

"The Parliament has spoken on behalf of its citizens. It is now incumbent upon the European Commission to enact legislation prohibiting the trade in harp and hooded seal products. The fate of millions of seals is now in the hands of the Commission," said Mark Glover, director of Humane Society International/UK.

-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                    

Heather Sullivan, THE HSUS
phone: 240.477.2251
email: hsullivan@humanesociety.org
For more information on The Humane Society of the United States' global efforts to ProtectSeals.

Camille Labchuk, HSI Canada
phone: 613.252.4570
email: clabchuk@humanesociety.org