In Brief

EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERS TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST CANADIAN SEAL IMPORTS

Just ahead of Canada's annual seal cull, Europe is considering imposing trade sanctions on seal products. In response to calls for action by the European Parliament, the Commission continues to look into the matter of "the inhumane killing of seals," said a spokesperson for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. A report will be presented within the next few months on the issue.

Member of European Parliament David Martin said he supported imposing trade sanctions commenting that, "trade sanctions would help end commercial seal hunting, a cruel and brutal practice which targets seal pups only a few weeks old. In 2006, 32 percent of Canadian seal fur exports went to the EU. With an EU ban, Canadian sealers would be forced to think twice about their heartless hunt."

A report has already been prepared by the European Food Safety Authority. It found that there was no evidence to support Canada's claim that their seal hunt is humane. Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said, "this report reveals the truth about Canada's commercial seal hunt, and destroys one of the greatest myths constantly propagated by the Canadian government.

The Canadian government defends their seal hunt and it is considered an "economic mainstay for numerous rural communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the North," said Loyola Hearn, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Belgium and the Netherlands have already banned imports of seal products, and similar bans are being considered in Germany, Italy and Austria. The EU currently bans fur imports from white-coated pups. However, the European Parliament has called for a full ban on Canadian seal fur imports.

Canada lodged a complaint at the WTO dispute mechanism over the EU bans in September 2007 (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 5 October 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-10-05/inbrief.htm). They are currently in discussions on how to proceed, and may ask for the establishment of a panel to judge on the matter if they fail to reach agreement.

"EU to Issue Reports on Canada Seal Killing Soon," Reuters, 27 March 2008; "We Must Help Ban This Cruel Fur Trade," Western Mail, 1 April 2008; "Euro MP Backs Sanctions to Hit Seal Culling," Scotsman, 28 March 2008; "EU Considers Action on 'Inhumane' Canadian Seal Killings," Earth Times, 26 March 2008; "Canada Orders Sea Shepherd to Stay Away from Seal Hunt," Environment News Service, 24 March 2008.

BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTORS CONVERGE

In a new report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Shell International find that protection of biodiversity and promotion of business can be complementary. The report, entitled 'Building Biodiversity Business', proposes a market-based solution to biodiversity loss and suggests that business will ensure environmental protection only if it can be made profitable. The authors identify numerous pro-biodiversity business opportunities that can generate positive financial returns as well as real biodiversity benefits. Examples include sustainable timber, ecotourism, organic agriculture, and climate mitigation services, such as the protection of forests and wetlands to absorb carbon dioxide. These commodities and services are internationally traded, and can give developing countries the opportunity to take advantage of growing markets for environmentally friendly products in the North.

Bioprospecting, the search for new compounds, genes and organisms in the wild, is also a biodiversity business on the rise and could see major trade possibilities for export to the North from regions in the South with high levels of biodiversity. However, the report highlights the need for policy reforms, technical assistance and innovative financing tools in order to attract business growth that protects biodiversity. Policy reforms include increasing the commercial rewards for conserving biodiversity, increasing penalties for biodiversity loss and improving information on the biodiversity performance of business.

Additional resources

The report, Building Biodiversity Business, can be read in full at http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2008-002.pdf

ICTSD reporting.