RESOLUTION of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Communities, meeting within the Council, of 5 January 1983 with regard to seal pups

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Considering the European Parliament resolution on Community trade in seal products, and in particular in products derived from the pups of harp and hooded seals ; whereas this resolution reflected concern over the way harp and hooded seal pups are killed in certain third countries;

Whereas in certain areas of the world the exploitation of seals and of other species, depending upon their capacity to withstand such exploitation and with due respect for the balance of nature, is a natural and legitimate occupation and forms an important part of the traditional way of life and economy;

Whereas in certain Member States voluntary or statutory measures already exist to restrict the importation or marketing of the skins of whitecoat pups of harp seals and of pups of hooded seals (blue-backs) ; whereas one Member State already requires the marking of all seal products ; whereas such measures must comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;

Whereas there is scientific uncertainty over the population size of the hooded seal and the capacity of that species to withstand exploitation at current levels,

CALL UPON:

the Commission, in collaboration with the authorities of the countries concerned, the examine further the methods, circumstances, scientific aspects (threat of extinction of species and environmental balance), possibilities of identification by marking, and consequences of the killing of pups of harp and hooded seals, taking into consideration, among other things, the conclusions reached by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES);

the Commission to pursue exploratory talks with the countries concerned in order to evaluate the possibilities inherent in the proposals put forward by Canada;

the Commission to report back as a matter of urgency so that the Council may review these issues by 1 March 1983;

the Commission to consider the possibility of proposing, in the light of the results of such examinations, and an evaluation of the national measures taken in accordance with point 11, the additional action to be taken at Community level on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Treaty;

THE COUNCIL UNDERTAKES

to examine the Commission's communications and proposals on the subject, notably the proposal for a Regulation on an import ban already submitted, and to adopt not later than 1 March 1983, as part of its review, all appropriate measures on the basis of all the necessary background information, while fulfilling the Community's obligations, in particular, in the field of international trade;

THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES UNDERTAKE

to pursue, where they are Parties of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, whatever initiatives might be necessary for the conservation of the harp and hooded seal species;

pending any decision about action at Community level, to take all measures necessary and possible within the limits of their national competence to prevent the importation into their territory of the products listed in the Annex to this resolution.

ANNEX

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