Major Victory for Seals! WTO Upholds EU’s Right to Ban Importation of Seal Fur

JUST IN: In a landmark ruling for animals, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has decided to uphold the right to ban importing seal products into the European Union. This is a massive victory for compassion, and brings us one step closer to the day when no more baby seals will be shot or beaten to death on Canada’s ice floes.

The ban on importing seal fur into the EU was first put in place in 2010, but the Canadian and Norwegian governments were trying to get it overturned, in a sinister attempt to force the cruel products of commercial seal slaughter onto a European public. The seal industry looks set to disappear, quite simply, because nobody wants to buy its unpleasant and unethical products. Canada has squandered millions in taxpayer dollars trying to prop it up and stained the country’s international reputation – but today’s wonderful news strikes another powerful blow against the bloody sealing business.

This is a watershed moment for animals, because it makes it clear that moral concerns –in this case, the blatant cruelty of shooting or clubbing seals to death for their skins – can triumph over so-called “trade interests” in an international court.

Kind people all over the world have been fighting to save the seals and as the WTO hearing unfolded, PETA was there every step of the way, to make the case for compassion. Special thanks go out to everyone who supported the campaigns of PETA and our international affiliates, including celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, Ke$ha, and Jude Law and Rhys Ifans, who wrote to the WTO on behalf of PETA and our affiliates urging it to do the right thing.

Together we’re making the world a better place for animals. Thank you!