The European Union Of Ban Commercial Seal Products

Abstract This paper delves into the disputes brought against the European Union by Canada and Norway. In doing so, the specifics of the disputes will be discussed and the World Trade Organization’s policies and procedures that have thus far allowed for the European Union to ban commercial seal products from these two countries. The research done on the topic of sealing will cover the regulations in both the Canadian and Norwegian seal fishing and also how their communities are impacted economically. The European Union’s main argument is that neither of these countries regulations on humane killing are efficient enough in ensuring that humane killings can occur at all times. Because of this, they continue to defend that their regulations go†¦show more content†¦They have several arguments, including the following: seal products from Canada and Norway are treated less favorably compared to the European Union’s (EU) domestic seal products and Greenland’s, the EU Seal Regime (measure that prohibits seal products into the EU) creates obstacles and trade restrictions that are unnecessary and that some of the procedural requirements go against requirements of the conformity assessment, Travellers conditions create quantitative restrictions on trade, and the Regime hurts any benefits accrued to them under covered agreements (Panel Report, 2013). The EU, on the other hand, claims that their Seal Regime meets obligations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Three conditions applied to seal products are as follows: the products were received from seals hunted by Inuit or Indigenous communities, the products were received from seals hunted for marine resource management, and travelers are allowed to bring seal products in limitation. The EU claims that the regulations put into place in 2009 and 2010 were implemented because of public moral concerns involving the welfare of seals; people should not cause suffering of animals without clear justi fication (Europa, 2013). The EU argue that inconsistencies claimed by Canada and Norway within the GATT 1994 should be considered as justified because they are working to protect public morals and seals’ health. They also argue that, under the TBT Agreement, any