The World Trade Organization has rejected Canada's appeal against a ban that keeps pelts and other products of the country's seal hunt from being imported into the European Union. The ban was instituted on moral grounds, the EU says.
From Toronto, Dan Karpenchuk reports for our Newscast unit:
"The WTO decision upheld a previous ruling that the European Union ban is necessary to protect public morals regarding animal welfare, meaning that concerns about animal welfare can override commercial interests.
"The EU banned seal products in 2010, arguing that the seal hunt causes pain and distress to the animals.
"Canada and Norway insist the hunt is done in an ethical manner, and argued the ban set a dangerous precedent because it was based on morality rather than science. The WTO did find that aspects of the embargo breached international obligations, and that exemptions have not been fairly applied.
"Animal rights groups were quick to praise the ruling. For Canada, it's the end of the line for the appeals process."