Canada filed a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against European Union (EU) ban on imported seal products. Canada stated in a letter which was sent to EU and the WTO, that the move was "inconsistent with the European Commission's (EC) obligations" under global trade rules.

WTO stated that Canada can ask the organization (WTO) for decision, if both sides fail to resolve their dispute within 60 days of consultations. The decision was appreciated by Canada's largest Inuit organisation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Mary Simon, the organisation's president expressed her opinion to EU that an exemption on Inuit products was "useless because once the market is eliminated for seal products, it is eliminated for Inuit products as well."

The International Fund for Animal Welfare criticized the Canadian action, arguing that the cost of the government will be more to protect the industry than the amount it generates each year.

Sheryl Fink, a researcher with the animal protection group pointed out “Apparently the sky's the limit when it comes to bailing out special interests like commercial seal clubbing."

She also added "There seems to be no end in sight to the use of Canadian's tax dollars to try and keep the sinking sealing industry afloat,"

Ottawa authorizes the killing of 338,000 seals per season, mentioning that the survival of the species is not in danger. Canada along with Greenland and Namibia intentionally kills 60% of the 900,000 seals each year. Norway, Iceland, Russia and the United States are among the list of other seal-hunting countries.

Source: AFP