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WTO cases
Cases involving the EU
WT/DS400 - European Communities - Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products
Last update: 15/01/2010
- Complaint by: Canada -
- Complaint against: EU
- Third parties:
Iceland -
Summary of case:
Regulation (EC) No. 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council on trade in seal products was adopted on 16 September 2009 and was published on 31 October 2009. It enters into force 20 days after publication. The Regulation prohibits the marketing of products derived from seals on the EU market. It applies to seal products produced in the EU and imported products. It does not apply to transit through the EU.
The marketing prohibition enters into force 9 months after the entry into force of the regulation. During this period the Commission will adopt implementing legislation. Implementing measures are necessary to manage the exemptions foreseen in the Regulation as regards:
seals from hunts traditionally conducted by indigenous communities (including Inuit) which contribute to their subsistence;
occasional imports of seal products for personal use of travelers for non-commercial reasons; and,
goods derived from seals hunted for the sole purpose of the sustainable management of marine resources on a not-for profit basis and not for commercial reasons.
The Commission is currently preparing these implementing measures.
Relevant WTO provision:
Article 2.1 and 2.2 of the TBT Agreement; Articles I:1, III:4 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994 and Article 4.2 of the Agriculture Agreement
Consultation:
Date of request: 04/11/2009
WTO documents
- 04/11/2009 - Request for Consultations by Canada
- 18/11/2009 - Request to Join Consultations - Communication from Iceland
- 21/10/2010 - Request for Consultations by Canada - Addendum
- 02/11/2010 - Request to Join Consultations - Communication from Iceland
- 14/02/2011 - Request for the establishment of a Panel by Canada
- 05/10/2012 - Constitution of the panel established at the requests of Canada[...]rway - Note by the Secretariat
- 05/11/2012 - Constitution of the panel established at the requests of Canada[...]e by the Secretariat -Revision
- 05/02/2013 - Communication from the Panel
- 05/04/2013 - Communication from the Chairperson of the panel
EU submissions
- 21/12/2012 - First written submission of the EU
- 27/03/2013 - Second Written Submission by the European Union