The European Union reinstated a ban on the importation of seal products. The ban took effect in August, but native hunters were granted a temporary exemption pending their appeal of the EU regulation. The regulation recognizes seals as "sentient beings that can experience pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering". The ruling cuts off a major export market for the annual Canadian seal hunt. However the hearing judge ruled the Inuit failed to prove an imminent financial hardship from the ban taking full effect. The EU has had import restrictions on seal products since 1983 in response to humanitarian concerns.
