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Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Page: 280

Seal Products

(Question No. 1261)

Senator Bob Brown asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, upon notice, on 22 September 2011:

In regard to the ban on seal products in Europe because of cruelty in the culling process:

(1)   Are there any prohibitions on Australian companies selling seal products.

(2)   Is the department aware of the sale of seal products in Australia, or of Australian businesses selling seal products elsewhere; if so, have any efforts been made to restrict the sale of such products in Australia or for businesses to be based here.

(3)   Has Australia been involved in international discussions or expressed concern to Namibia about the operation of its seal culling.

Senator Conroy: The Minister for Trade has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)   Commercial trade of seals taken in Commonwealth waters is prohibited (under Part 13 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

   Commercial trade in species (including their parts or derivatives) listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is only allowed in very limited circumstances (under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). The seal species Arctocephalus townsendi is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

   Commercial trade in species listed on Appendix II of CITES is strictly regulated. All other seals of the genus Arctocephalus (including their parts or derivatives) are listed on Appendix II of CITES and therefore require the issuing of permits prior to their importation into, and export out of, Australia (under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

   Commercial trade in seal species not taken in Commonwealth waters and not listed on the appendices to CITES is not regulated by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

(2)   The Australian Government department responsible for regulating international wildlife trade, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has advised that it is not aware of any commercial import or export of seal products of seal species listed on the appendices to CITES. No permits for the import or export of products containing the genus Arctocephalus have been issued under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

(3)   No.