OTTAWA — The federal government took the first step Monday in its fight against the European Union's ban on trade in seal products by requesting consultations with the World Trade Organization.
Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day said consultations are the first stage in the organization's dispute settlement process.
"Canada is standing up for its sealers," said Day. "The EU has adopted a regulation that bans the sale of Canadian seal products. We believe that this is a violation of the EU's trade obligations."
But animal welfare groups say, in pursuing consultations with the WTO, Canada is wasting taxpayers' money.
"This is going to cost $10,000 to fight this thing and all the government is doing is embarrassing Canadians," said Sheryl Fink, a spokeswoman with the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
"It goes against public opinion. The European public has been very clear that they don't want to provide a market for the seal hunt. It's just another knee-jerk solution by our politicians to put our dead seals into a market that doesn't want it."
The government wants the EU to put a clause in the new bill allowing countries, such as Canada, to be exempt if their seal hunt meets international humanitarian, scientific and environmental guidelines established by the union in 2006.
The majority of the EU's 27-member states voted in July to approve the ban. The ban eliminates all trade of seal product imports such as pelts, oil and meat.
Canadian officials say a prohibition would mean a $2.4-million loss for the Canadian industry, which is the largest in the world.
The EU ban comes into effect in August 2010.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
I say good for the EU. The seal hunt is a huge embarrassment to Canada and I think the only thing the government is doing is just going to cement that.
Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day said consultations are the first stage in the organization's dispute settlement process.
"Canada is standing up for its sealers," said Day. "The EU has adopted a regulation that bans the sale of Canadian seal products. We believe that this is a violation of the EU's trade obligations."
But animal welfare groups say, in pursuing consultations with the WTO, Canada is wasting taxpayers' money.
"This is going to cost $10,000 to fight this thing and all the government is doing is embarrassing Canadians," said Sheryl Fink, a spokeswoman with the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
"It goes against public opinion. The European public has been very clear that they don't want to provide a market for the seal hunt. It's just another knee-jerk solution by our politicians to put our dead seals into a market that doesn't want it."
The government wants the EU to put a clause in the new bill allowing countries, such as Canada, to be exempt if their seal hunt meets international humanitarian, scientific and environmental guidelines established by the union in 2006.
The majority of the EU's 27-member states voted in July to approve the ban. The ban eliminates all trade of seal product imports such as pelts, oil and meat.
Canadian officials say a prohibition would mean a $2.4-million loss for the Canadian industry, which is the largest in the world.
The EU ban comes into effect in August 2010.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
I say good for the EU. The seal hunt is a huge embarrassment to Canada and I think the only thing the government is doing is just going to cement that.
