Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002484/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Katri Kulmuni (Renew)
On 19 September 2024, I submitted a written question to the Commission (E-001763/2024[1]) on the commercial exploitation of seal products. The reply I received referred to the fitness check on the EU Regulation on Trade in Seal Products and the EU Seal Pups Directive, and to a report to be drawn up on the basis of that fitness check. The Commission is to consider whether further measures are needed on the basis of the findings of the fitness check.
The ban on placing seal products on the market is still causing problems for seal hunts. Seal hunting is permitted and even desirable under certain conditions to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources. However, seal carcasses may not be commercially exploited in any way, meaning that in practice the carcasses are hazardous waste. Allowing seal hunters to use the meat, skin, blubber and bones might also provide an incentive for hunting, although this would be at their own expense.
In terms of the EU market as a whole, this is a very small issue. However, it is really important for individual seal hunters.
Now that six months have passed, and on the basis of the foregoing, I would like to ask the following questions:
- 1.On the basis of the fitness check on the EU rules on trade in seal products, have any proposals been made to allow trade in seal products obtained from legally hunted seals?
- 2.If there are no plans to amend the regulations governing trade in seal products, on what grounds would requests to allow small-scale trade in seal products be turned down?
Submitted: 20.6.2025
- [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001763_EN.html