The Canadian government is calling on the European Union to ease restrictions on seal products as member states review trade regulations.

Ottawa said in a letter dated Tuesday to the European Commission害羞草研究所檚 vice-president that Canada has been given the opportunity to 害羞草研究所減rovide input害羞草研究所� on the seal trade while the union fine tunes its rules. The outcome is scheduled to be published on the site in eight weeks.

In 2009, the European Union limited imports for Canadian seal products, citing the 害羞草研究所減ain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering害羞草研究所� of seals because of the way in which they are killed and skinned.

Canada has many species of seals including bearded, grey, harbour, harp, hooded and ringed. Three of these 害羞草研究所� grey, harp, and hooded 害羞草研究所� are killed for commercial uses.

However, a Senate fisheries committee said in a May report that there were 害羞草研究所渢roubling science and research gaps害羞草研究所� in relation to seals, including the ecosystems they inhabit, their diets and their distribution.

害羞草研究所淎 lack of data and scientific evidence often seem to be used by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as reasons for inaction, even though anecdotal evidence that seals are negatively impacting fish stocks and ecosystems seems abundant,害羞草研究所� the report said. 害羞草研究所淭he precautionary approach must be used in this situation and seal populations must be actively managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.害羞草研究所�

The Fisheries Department puts the grey and harp seal populations at 424,300 and 7.6 million animals, respectively.

Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier says in the letter that European Union regulations have led to a drop in Canada害羞草研究所檚 access to global markets for seal products, with exports falling from $18 million in 2006 to $515,000 in 2022.

害羞草研究所淔or more than a decade, this European Union requirement has significantly restricted the trade of Canada害羞草研究所檚 sustainable, humane, and well-regulated seal harvest,害羞草研究所� says the letter, also signed by five other federal ministers. 害羞草研究所淭his has directly impacted the lives, livelihoods and culture of Indigenous and coastal communities in Canada for whom a sustainable, humane and ethical seal harvest has long been a way of life.害羞草研究所�

The seal trade has been an important source of identity and revenue for Indigenous and Inuit communities, especially women, the letter says.

害羞草研究所淪eals have provided food, clothing, tools and warmth for generations. In particular, Indigenous and Inuit women were traditionally responsible for working the seal pelt, and this was an important source of identity and respect, as well as a source of revenue that provided economic independence,害羞草研究所� said the letter.

The European regulation was amended in 2015 to make an exception for products that come from hunts by Inuit or other Indigenous communities, but the letter says that has not prevented the effectively 害羞草研究所渃omplete害羞草研究所� closing of the European Union market to seal products. The European Commission acknowledged the lack in trade last October, saying the exception for Indigenous hunts is not well known in the union.

Canada is asking the union to repeal its regulation on the seal trade and replace it with rules that offer access for 害羞草研究所渆thically and sustainably harvested products.害羞草研究所� The letter says Canadian hunters use a quick and humane technique to kill the animals.

害羞草研究所淒eveloped and implemented based on the recommendations from a working group comprised of independent veterinarians, the three-step process is as humane 害羞草研究所� if not more so 害羞草研究所� than most other methods of dispatching wild or domesticated animals in the world.害羞草研究所�

A spokesperson for the European Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Canadian Press