The Delicate Equilibrium of EU Trade Measures: The Seals Case

• Published in: German Law Journal
• Main Author: Beqiraj, Julinda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Norway; inuit
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s2071832200001802; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S2071832200001802

Regulation EC No. 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 banned the placement of seal products in the EU market. The measure has been very controversial, triggering a strong reaction, both from neighboring exporting States, in particular Canada and Norway, and from indigenous people living in the Arctic region. Seal hunting represents a traditional practice carried out for the purpose of personal consumption of seal meat, as well as for commercial trade of related by-products by the indigenous communities (mainly Inuit) living in the Northern Pole.