[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) Seals are sentient beings that can experience pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering. The hunting of seals has led to expressions of serious concerns and outrage by members of the public and governments sensitive to animal welfare considerations due to the pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering which the killing and skinning of seals, as they are most frequently performed, cause to those animals. In accordance with Article 13 TFEU, the Union and its Member States are to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals when formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies. The harmonised rules provided for in this Regulation should accordingly take fully into account considerations of the welfare of animals.

2015/05/08
Committee: AGRI

Anja HAZEKAMP, Stefan ECK

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) At the same time, seal hunting is an integral part of the culture and identity of the Inuit and other indigenous communities and makes a major contribution to their subsistence. For those reasons, seal hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities do not raise the same public moral concerns as the hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes. Moreover, it is broadly recognised that the fundamental and social interests of Inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected, in accordance with United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other relevant international instruments. ~~For those reasons, by way of exception, Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 allows the~~Because since 2009, there have been very few seal products resulting from traditional hunts by indigenous communities that have been plac~~ing~~ed on the Union market ~~of seal products which result from hunts traditionally con~~, it is reasonable to conclude that exports of seal producteds by ~~Inuit and other~~ indigenous communities ~~and which~~do not substantially contribute to their subsistence.

2015/05/08
Committee: AGRI

Anja HAZEKAMP, Stefan ECK

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) A genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the Inuit and other indigenous communities, just like in the other seal hunts. ~~Nonetheless,~~Therefore it is appropriate, in light of the objective pursued by Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, to make the placing in the Union market of products resulting from hunts by the Inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces pain, distress, fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible, while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the Inuit and other indigenous communities. The exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes. Thus, the Commission should be enabled to limit, if necessary, the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposprohibit the placing in the Union market of products resulting from hunts by the Inuit and other indigenous communities.

2015/05/08
Committee: AGRI

Anja HAZEKAMP, Stefan ECK

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 also allows, by way of exception, the placing on the market of seal products where the hunt is conducted with the sole purpose of sustainable management of marine resources. While recognizing the importance of hunts for the purpose of sustainable management of marine resources, in practice, however, these hunts may be difficult to distinguish from the large hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes. This may lead to unjustified discrimination between the seal products concerned. Therefore, this exception should no longer be provided for and Commission Regulation 737/2010 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on trade in seal products should be amended accordingly. This is without prejudice to the right of Member States to continue regulating hunts conducted for the purposes of management of marine resources.

2015/05/08
Committee: AGRI

Anja HAZEKAMP, Stefan ECK