Contact: Katie McConnell (IFAW, Headquarters)
U.S. Tel: 1 (508) 744-2237
E-mail: kmcconnell@ifaw.org

Germany forwards a draft bill for a trade ban on seal products to the EU

(Berlin, Germany, 13 February 2008) - Another step towards ending cruel commercial seal hunts came out of Germany today with the government’s decision to forward the draft bill for a national trade ban on all seal products to the EU Commission. The Commission will clarify that the bill is in accordance with European legislation and with global commercial law. IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), has been working throughout the European Union and around the world to achieve national bans on seal products.

“Working towards a trade ban is a clear statement that Germany wants no part of Canada’s commercial seal hunt this March,” remarked Dr. Ralf Sonntag, Director of IFAW Germany. “It is very important that this law is enacted as soon as the EU reviews it.  We are delighted with the government’s efforts to protect seals at the national level and we also expect the government to stand up consistently for the passage of an EU-wide trade ban.”

European opposition to the Canadian commercial seal hunt has grown in the last year. IFAW’s strong lobbying efforts helped bring about national bans in both Belgium and The Netherlands. Similar bans are under consideration in Italy and Austria and IFAW is continuing to urge these nations and others to help shrink the global market for seal products.

“We are appealing to Canada to end this inherently inhumane hunt once and for all,” added Sonntag. “It is not a profitable enterprise. In fact, it depends on an enormous amount of subsidies and it damages Canada’s reputation in the international community.

Germany’s national ban on seal products comes just one month before Canada’s commercial seal hunt is set to begin off the east coast of Canada. Last year, more than 224,000 harp seals were killed, 98.5% of which were under 3 months of age.

To learn more about IFAW’s efforts to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt, visit www.stopthesealhunt.org today.