19 February 2007 - Delays to a ban on the import of seal fur will mean over 200,000 seals are needlessly butchered, Green MEP Caroline Lucas has warned.

Demanding an immediate moratorium on the trade, Dr Lucas said proposals for a further study into killing methods used by sealers would mean rules wouldn’t be in force before this year’s annual seal slaughter, due to begin in a matter of weeks.

The Green Party MEP, whose proposals to ban the trade attracted record support from MEPs in the European Parliament, said: “Within weeks this year’s seal hunt is set to begin. The suffering for seals – both mothers and young – will be immense.

“The democratically-elected European parliament has backed – by a massive majority – my proposals to stop the slaughter, and it is completely unacceptable that the EU Commission is seeking to delay their implementation.

“We need action to halt the hunt now, before it is too late for another generation of seals, in line with the wishes of MEPs, EU citizens, and the Commission’s own previously-stated commitments to international animal welfare.”

The MEP, who is also a Vice President of the RSPCA, made her comments after it emerged that the Commission intends to investigate killing methods – a study which will delay action and waste EU taxpayers’ cash.

She added: “We don’t need another study into the methods by which hunters kill seals. There is a large body of evidence, including film footage, showing the true horrors of the seal hunt.

“Pups are often struck repeatedly before being rendered unconscious and in some cases are skinned alive, often as their mother seals watch helplessly.

“Apart from the likely cost to EU citizens of conducting such a study, this further delay will cost lives and cause further unnecessary suffering.”

Last year a Written Declaration calling for the ban on the import of seal products into the EU proposed by Dr Lucas broke all records for parliamentary support, attracting the backing of 425 Euro-MPs from a range of political groups and EU member states.

National bans are already in place in Italy and Belgium , and just this week the Dutch parliament voted to follow suit. The UK Government has stated its desire to see an EU ban in place as soon as possible.

ENDS