Trade in seal products: conditions for placing on the market

The European Parliament adopted by 631 votes to 31, with 33 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products.

Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Conditions for placing on the market: the amended text stressed that seal hunting is an integral part of the socio-economy, nutrition, culture and identity of the Inuit and other indigenous communities, making a major contribution to their subsistence and development, providing food and income to support the life and sustainable livelihood of the community, preserving and continuing the traditional existence of the community.

As regards the IC exception (products from hunts conducted by Inuit or other indigenous communities), Parliament stated that the placing on the market of seal products shall be allowed only where the seal products result from hunts conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities, provided that the following conditions are all satisfied:

• the hunt has traditionally been conducted by the community;
• the hunt is conducted for and contributes to subsistence of the community, including in order to provide food and income to support life and sustainable livelihood, and is not conducted primarily for commercial reasons;
• the hunt is conducted in a manner, which has due regard to animal welfare and takes into consideration the way of life of the Community and the subsistence purpose of the hunt.

Attesting document: at the time of its being placed on the market, a seal product shall be accompanied by a document attesting compliance with specific conditions. An attesting document shall, upon request, be issued by a body recognised for that purpose by the Commission. Such recognised bodies shall be independent, competent to carry out their functions and subject to an external audit.

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to further specify the administrative arrangements for the recognition of bodies that may attest to the compliance with the conditions set out in the Regulation.

Hunting for commercial purposes: if there is evidence that a seal hunt is conducted primarily for commercial reasons, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in order to prohibit the placing on the market or limit the quantity that may be placed on the market of seal products resulting from the hunt concerned.

Information: the Commission shall inform the public, with a view to raising their awareness, and competent authorities, including customs authorities, of the provisions of this Regulation and of the rules under which seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit or other indigenous communities can be placed on the market.

Reporting: by 31 December 2018 and every four years thereafter, Member States shall submit to the Commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this Regulation. The Commission shall submit a report on the implementation of this Regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period. The first report shall be submitted by 31 December 2019.

In its report, the Commission shall assess the functioning, effectiveness and impact of this Regulation in achieving its objective.