Following a request by the European Commission, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) is to prepare a scientific opinion on the methods for killing and skinning seals currently used in and outside the European Union. The aim is to measure, as far as is scientifically possible, the degree of pain, distress and suffering that may be caused by each method, and to identify the most humane practices.
The request for an EFSA opinion comes in response to growing public concerns over the welfare of seals, which are hunted using methods that may not guarantee their instantaneous death. These include the stunning of animals with instruments such as hakapiks, bludgeons and guns. Concerns have also been expressed about the possible adverse effects that commercial hunting may be having on the conservation of harp and hood seals.
In September 2006 the European Parliament passed a written declaration calling for a ban on the import of seal products. The declaration received a record number of signatures in support, but a ban will not be put in place until a full assessment by the Commission on the humane aspects of the hunt has been completed.
EFSA’s scientific opinion will form part of this assessment. It will, inter alia, take into account all available studies, including those conducted by animal welfare groups, government and private bodies from in and outside of the EU. EFSA will also work closely with the animal health and welfare panel of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food safety, which will provide data and input to EFSA.
While recognising the many societal and ethical issues that seal hunting raises, EFSA says that, in line with its legal mandate, the opinion will focus on the scientific aspects only. It will attempt to measure the level of suffering caused by current hunting practices with a view to identifying those methods which are the most humane.
A public consultation on the draft opinion, including a meeting with stakeholders, is planned for September, while the final opinion is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
