Minister Hearn responds to proposed European Union ban on trade of seal products

"While we are encouraged that the hard work of the Prime Minister, Fisheries Conservation Ambassador Sullivan, and the international team from the provinces and territories has led us to successfully secure assurances that humanely killed seals can receive exemptions from the proposed ban, our position remains that any ban on a humanely conducted hunt, such as Canada's, is without cause.

"In the weeks and months ahead, the federal government - along with our provincial and territorial governments and sealing industry leaders - will be reviewing how the proposed regulations and any exemptions would apply to Canada. Canada expects the EU to quickly begin discussions on the conditions for exemption from the draft regulations so that any trade restriction would have no impact on market access for products from Canada's humane, regulated and responsible hunt.

"Once again, we would like to caution European decision-makers: adopting broad regulations to ban products from a responsible, sustainable and well-regulated hunt is a slippery slope. To bow to misinformation and emotional rhetoric in restricting the trade of humanely harvested animals would set a dangerous precedent for all wild hunts.

"We will continue to stand up for sealers to protect the Canadian sealing industry and our markets."