Dutch Government To Ban Trade In Seal Products

The Dutch government has informed Namibia's Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources that it will ban all imports and trade in seal products by the end of this year. The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Gerda Verburg, announced this step in Parliament which will be cemented by a new law. Dr Abraham Iyambo was informed of the move in a letter dated October 5 and made available to The Namibian. "These magnificent animals are much loved by the Dutch general public. The Netherlands believes that the method used to kill them, which involves clubbing and subsequent stabbing, is not ethical from an animal welfare perspective," Dutch Minister Verburg wrote. "Prolonged suffering of seal pups regularly occurs as a result. Surveys have shown that the vast majority of Dutch people are against the killing of seals. The Government of the Netherlands has therefore called for a ban on all imports of these species and products thereof"...