trade in natural resources Seal products
Regulation No 1007/2009, amended by Regulation No 2015/1775 Commission’s Implementing Regulations Legal basis: Article 114 TFEU on harmonization of measures necessary for the internal market General ban with some exceptions
Inuit exception Definitions Certification mechanism
Conflicting interests Animal welfare Rights of indigenous peoples
WTO panel (2013) and Appellate Body (2014) found it discriminatory ECJ Inuit cases and WTO Seal products case. Animal welfare, public morals and Internal market General Court case T-526/10, Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami upheld the regulation. So did the Court: C-398/13 P WTO panel (2013) and Appellate Body (2014) found it discriminatory
Reform of the Seal Regime Regulation No 2015/1775 More stringent criteria for the Inuit exception: hunt conducted in a manner which has due regard to animal welfare More explicit indication of the objectives: to avoid distortions of the internal market and to take care of citizens’ concern over animal welfare (public morals)