Labour News from European Parliamentary Labour Party

Labour Euro MP Arlene McCarthy, Chair of the European Parliament’s influential Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee has today, Tuesday 5 May 2009, won the backing of the full Parliament for the agreement she negotiated with the Council and Commission for a ban on the trade in seal products in the European Union.

Arlene said: “This law is a victory for people power and a credit to the campaigners involved. The vast majority of people across the United Kingdom and Europe are horrified by the cruel clubbing to death of seals. This law will ensure there is no European market for these products and put an end to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals every year.”

Arlene added: “It has been a battle to get this law on the statute book. Sustained last minute lobbying by non-EU countries has sought to demonise Europe for ending a trade which in reality is collapsing around the world. I have been determined to steer this law into place as a clear expression of the will of the European public.”

Nicki Brooks director of campaigning group Respect for Animals said: “This is a truly fantastic day for the seals. Without Arlene McCarthy’s leadership and commitment this ban would not have been possible.”

Nicki added: “Lib Dem Euro MP Diana Wallis, the rapporteur for the proposal, attempted to ignore the Commission’s original proposal and put forward a labelling scheme instead. This clearly did not meet the expectations of the public and Arlene deserves great credit for championing both the seals and the electorate by ensuring that labelling was replaced by a robust ban. This ban will save the lives of millions of seals.”

Arlene added: “The impact of this impending ban has already been felt. Thanks to the continuing collapse in the fur price the Canadian hunt has killed less than 60,000 seals this year, down from over 220,000 last year.