EUROPEAN COMMISSION BAN ON SEAL IMPORTS

Early day motion 1006, tabled 28 February 2007 by Elliot Morley (Labour). Signed by 129 members.

That this House welcomes the UK Government's policy to press the European Commission to ban the import of harp and hooded seal products into the EU; notes that a Written Declaration signed by a record number of Members of the European Parliament called for the European Commission to take action immediately to ban seal imports; is concerned therefore that the European Commission has not taken the urgent action called for; believes that the German Presidency of the EU presents a good opportunity to take such action; further notes the Council of Europe Recommendation that asks the parliaments of its member states to ban the import of seal products in order to achieve the ending by Canada of the unsustainable and cruel hunt; recognises that a recent poll shows that 80 per cent. of people in the UK want seal imports to be banned; and urges the UK Government to show international leadership by pressing the European Commission to ban seal imports as soon as possible and by calling for an EU moratorium on the import of seal products and to consider a moratorium at national level to prohibit the import of all seal products into the UK until EU-wide measures are in place.

Signatures by party: Labour 91, Liberal Democrat 26, Conservative 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.