Seal products trade: the EU ban adapted to WTO rules

	On 1 October the Council  adopted  a  regulation that brings the EU  ban on trade in seal products into compliance with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Canada and Norway challenged the EU ban, in place since 2009, before the WTO. The WTO ruling from June 2014  upheld the EU ban  on trade in seal products, but found that two exceptions granted were problematic, arguing they could have discriminatory effects. The new regulation addresses these concerns by eliminating one of these exceptions and setting clearer conditions for the other.