In seal hunt protest, EU weighs ban on some imports

FORESEES VICTORY: Former French movie star-turned-activist Brigitte Bardot said the '30-year-long battle . . . is about to be won.'

BRUSSELS - The European Union proposed a total trade and import ban yesterday on products from seals killed in a cruel way despite warnings it could hurt the world's largest annual seal hunt in Canada.

The plan announced yesterday covers hunts worldwide, but focuses on Canada because of assertions by hunt opponents that it is the cruelest. Canadian seal hunters use spiked clubs and rifles to kill seals.

The EU proposal says the trade in seal products would be allowed from countries that can offer guarantees their hunting techniques are "consistent with high animal-welfare standards" and the animals are killed swiftly without undue suffering.

The proposal recommends a certificate and labels be provided by countries exporting seal products making clear seal products they trade meet strict EU conditions.

The proposal followed a campaign by animal rights groups and wrangling within the European Commission about how far it could go without sparking a complaint to the World Trade Organization by Canada and other hunting nations.

Canada has warned that a ban could violate trade rules and threatened action if a ban was introduced. It said a ban would decimate isolated east coast communities that are heavily dependent on the annual hunt.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said he hoped the ban would be in place before the 2009 hunting season off Canada's east coast.

"Seal products coming from countries which practice cruel hunting methods must not be allowed to enter the EU," Dimas said. Dimas said his office was flooded with thousands of e-mails and petitions demanding a ban, mainly from Britain, the United States, and Canada.

Former French movie star-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot said the "30-year-long battle . . . is about to be won."

Canada exported around $5.5 million worth of seal products such as pelts, meat, and oils to the EU in 2006.