EU seeks to ban 'inhumane' seal imports

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Commission will seek to ban the import of "inhumane" seal products, a spokeswoman said Friday, though animal rights groups fear the move may not prevent the annual cull in Canada.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas "intends to come forward with legislation which bans the importation and sale of products derived from seals that had been... inhumanely killed," his spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich told reporters in Brussels.

She did not say when such legislation might be presented to the European Parliament and the 27 EU member states.

Animal rights activists fear that the ban will come with a proviso which will make it practically unworkable and ineffective, British Green MEP Caroline Lucas said.

"What we are hearing...