Canadian Seal Slaughter

EDM number 32 in 2004-05, proposed by Paddy Tipping on 23/11/2004.

That this House deplores the number of animals killed during the 2003 and 2004 Canadian slaughter of harp and hooded seals counted as more than 600,000; notes that a study of the slaughter in 2001 by international veterinarians found that up to 42 per cent. of the seal pups were skinned alive while conscious; is concerned that a further 300,000 seals are set to be killed during 2005; notes that leading animal welfare groups from around the world are planning a boycott of Canadian fish products unless the Canadian Government brings an end to the seal slaughter; further notes that the Belgian Government has banned the import of seal fur; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce at the earliest opportunity a ban on the import of, and trade in, all seal products and to convey its gravest concerns to the Canadian Government over the continuation of the seal slaughter.

This motion has been signed by a total of 140 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.