Legislation to ban seal products in Europe will hurt Arctic communities, according to Inuit leaders, even though there will be exceptions put into place to protect those communities. The bill is aiming to put into place a ban on the import of all seal products to the 27 members of the European Union and it has been endorsed by the Union’s internal market and consumer protection committee. The proposed bill would have provisions allowing the Inuit trade their seal products for “for cultural, educational or ceremonial purposes.” With this limit on what can be traded, there is worry that the proposed bill will kill all of the Inuit seal trade with Europe. more »