European seal ban could come within 18 months

PARIS - A Europe-wide ban on seal products is at least 18 months away, according to a member of the European Parliament, one of the Canadian government's top opponents in an emotional diplomatic battle.

Swedish parliamentarian Carl Schlyter was responding Wednesday to a speech by Bruce Williams, president of the Fur Institute of Canada, who told a gathering in Newfoundland this week that the seal industry faces a "crisis" due to the spectre of a Europe-wide ban.

"He's right in the trend moving away from this," Schlyter said. "The public acceptance of this in Europe is very low, very low. On the other hand the legal ban might take more time than he thinks. I was optimistic we would get it this year, but I'm no longer optimistic."

Schlyter, who introduced the anti-seal hunt declaration that was passed in the European Parliament in 2006, said European Union officials are struggling to come up with a legal basis to block imports of seal products. Even if one were discovered immediately, it would still have to be debated and go through all the legislative hoops at the labyrinthian EU.

The Canadian government has waged an aggressive diplomatic battle against the anti-sealing movement even though export of seal products, including pelts, meat and oil, totaled a relatively miniscule $18 million in 2006. Less than a third of that total, $5.4 million, went to the EU's 27 member countries. Ottawa launched complaints before the World Trade Organization recently, seeking to overturn seal product bans in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Canadian Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn turned up the rhetorical stakes when he complained in Belgium that the ban would hurt Canadians whose relatives fought and died to liberate Europe.

Schlyter said Canada's efforts are counterproductive and reek of desperation.

"It's not paying proper tribute to the people who died from Canada during the two world wars. They were not there to defend the sealers; they were there to defend human rights."

An EU scientific panel accepted last month a report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which determined that while many seals are killed quickly and relatively humanely in Canada and other countries, there is "strong" evidence that some seals die a slower and painful death that includes bleeding and skinning while there are signs of life.

The panel recommended a series of measures to ensure sealers are adequately trained.