Ban on seal hunting products upheld
The RSPCA said it is "delighted" that the ban on importing seal products has been upheld.
Animal welfare organisations have welcomed a decision by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to uphold a ban on the import of products of the seal hunting industry.
An EU ban in 2010 prohibited the trade in items such as seal pelts, oil and meat, including those from Canada, Namibia and Norway.
In response to the decision, the Canadian and Norwegian governments challenged the ban. However, the four-year ban on seal fur will be upheld after the WTO rejected the appeal.
RSPCA head of public affairs David Bowles said: "This is an historic decision - it is the first time that a moral defence has been upheld in entirety and that in itself is game changing…
"We hope this landmark ruling will now give governments greater confidence to pursue and agree measures to improve animal welfare, including trade bans".
