IFAW urges Chinese consumers to reject cruelty-tainted seal products

IFAW urges Chinese consumers to reject cruelty-tainted seal products
(Toronto, Canada – 13 January 2011) – The International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org) is sceptical about the Canadian government’s announcement that it has reached an agreement to sell seal products to China.

IFAW believes that Chinese consumers, like those in the European Union, will not condone the horrific slaughter of seal pups and will reject meat and oil that is ‘tainted’ by cruelty.

IFAW asserts that while this is a political agreement between China and Canada, Chinese consumers will be the ones to decide the fate of seal products. Once Chinese consumers are made aware of the realities of Canada’s commercial seal hunt, IFAW believes that they will reject the products, thereby making the deal irrelevant.

Sheryl Fink, Director of IFAW’s seal programme, said: “The Canadian government can try and try again to dump unwanted seal products on other countries, but as the EU ban has shown, they may not succeed. Chinese consumers are more ethical and more aware of the truth about the seal hunt than the Canadian government is giving them credit for.”

Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW’s Asia Regional Director, added: “This is a slap in the face for China, Chinese culture and Chinese people. China is not a dumping ground for Canadian seal products and Chinese consumers should not shoulder the ethical responsibility of paying for the cruel slaughter of seals in Canada.”

The ban on seal products in the European Union is a case study for how consumer outcry and the animal welfare movement can create a ‘perfect storm’ to close the door on Canadian seal products.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “The Chinese may not want seal products any more than people in the EU or the USA. Rather than wasting time and money on pursuing extremely uncertain markets, the Canadian government should be investing in sustainable futures for sealers and working to protect Canada’s wild seals.”

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For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Clare Sterling at IFAW on 020 7587 6708, mobile 07917 507717 or email csterling@ifaw.org

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. Visit www.ifaw.org