EU seal ban decision to be appealed

Canada's Inuitandthe fur industrywill appeal a court ruling Thursday that rejected a challenge to the European Union's ban on imports of Canadian seal products.

"I am disappointed and angered that the suspension of the ban has been lifted, now that the judge has had ample time since Aug. 19 to properly consider this immoral legislation," said Mary Simon, president of Canada's national Inuit organization, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, in a news release.

"We plan to appeal the ruling as we believe the original seal ban was based on colonial perceptions of our sealing practices, and this week's ruling is a perfect illustration of this."

The ban was suspended Aug. 19 after Inuit groups in Canada launched the legal challenge, arguing the ban would have a severe economic impact on them.

On Thursday, that argument was rejected by European Court of Justice Judge Marc Jaeger, who said the Inuit didn't provide evidence to justify their fears.

That decision reinstates the general Europeanban on Canadian seal products. Seal products from traditional Inuit hunts for subsistence are exempt from the ban, but Inuit challenged the general ban, arguing it would make it more difficult for them to sell their products.

Direct appeal to European citizens

On Friday, Simon made a direct appeal to Europeans and Canadians, asking them to oppose the ban on Canadian seal products.

"Icall on European citizens to understand what this legislation is doing to our right to sell seal products into their markets. I call on them to educate themselves on why the seal hunt is in fact legal, humane and sustainable, and in many cases necessary to maintain marine ecosystem balance. I call on Canadians to do the same."

Animal protection groups applauded the decision, but a group representing the Canadian fur industry said it will continue to fight the ban.

"The recent news is disappointing, but it will not affect the outcome of our main case on the ban, which is still before the court, and expected to go to trial next year," said Rob Cahill, executive director of the Fur Institute of Canada.

"This legislation is discriminatory and unjust. It does absolute nothing to address marine conservation or animal welfare, and is misguided at best," says Cahill.

Earlier this year, the federal government said the ban is unacceptable. It's pursuing a complaint at the World Trade Organization.