Catherine Stihler, Scottish Labour MEP

Sir,

I write in response to your report ‘European law spells end for traditional Scottish sporran’.

The European Parliament’s decision to adopt a ban on the trade in seal products is a victory for people power and has come after a long and hard fought campaign by animal rights activists all across the globe.

The vast majority of people in Scotland and across Europe are absolutely horrified by the barbaric slaughtering practices exercised by seal clubbers in commercial hunts.  Too often have we seen repellent images of baby seals being clubbed to death for their fur.  Opinion polling shows strong majorities across European Member States back a ban, between 70% and over 90%, even in those that have a tradition of small scale seal hunting.  In Canada, home of the world's largest hunt, a majority of the public want to see the hunt shut down. Bans are already in place in the USA and Mexico, and are being introduced in Russia and Hong Kong.

This EU law will spell an end to is the importing of furs and other products from seals that have been cruelly beaten to death.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Stihler MEP

Labour MEP for Scotland