Regulation 2015/1775 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 262/1

Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) was adopted with the objective of eliminating obstacles to the functioning of the internal market due to differences in national measures regulating trade in seal products. Those measures were adopted in response to public moral concerns about the animal welfare aspects of the killing of seals and the possible presence on the Union market of products obtained from seals killed in a way that causes excessive pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering. Such concerns were supported by evidence showing that a genuinely humane killing method cannot be consistently and effectively applied and enforced in the specific conditions in which seal hunting takes place. In order to achieve that objective, Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 introduced, as a general rule, a prohibition on the placing on the market of seal products.

At the same time, seal hunting is an integral part of the socio-economy, nutrition, culture and identity of the Inuit and other indigenous communities, making a major contribution to their subsistence and development, providing food and income to support the life and sustainable livelihood of the community, preserving and continuing the traditional existence of the community. For those reasons, seal hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities do not raise the same public moral concerns as seal hunts conducted primarily for commercial reasons. Moreover, it is broadly recognised that the fundamental, economic and social interests of Inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted on 13 September 2007 and other relevant international instruments. In addition, three Member States (Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain) have ratified the Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (Convention No 169), adopted on 27 June 1989 by the International Labour Organisation (4). For those reasons, by way of exception, Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 allows the placing on the market of seal products which result from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities for their subsistence and which contribute to such subsistence.

In the light of the objective pursued by Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, the placing on the Union market of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities should be made conditional upon those hunts being conducted with due regard to animal welfare in a manner which reduces pain, distress, fear or other forms of suffering experienced by the animals hunted to the extent possible, while taking into consideration the way of life of the Inuit and other indigenous communities and the subsistence purpose of the hunt. Therefore, the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence of those communities.

Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 also allows, by way of exception, the placing on the market of seal products where the hunt is conducted for the sole purpose of the sustainable management of marine resources. While recognising the importance of hunts conducted for the purpose of the sustainable management of marine resources, in practice those hunts may be difficult to distinguish from the large-scale hunts conducted primarily for commercial reasons. This may lead to unjustified discrimination with regard to the seal products concerned. Therefore, that exception should no longer be provided for. Nevertheless, the removal of the exception relating to the sustainable management of marine resources may create problems in Member States where carcasses derived from legal seal hunts have been used as material for seal products which have been placed on the local markets occasionally and in small quantities. It is appropriate for the Commission to include information made available to it on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, as amended by this Regulation, in those Member States in its assessment of the functioning, effectiveness and impact of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009. The removal of that exception is without prejudice to the right of Member States to continue regulating hunts conducted for the purpose of the sustainable management of marine resources.

In order to ensure that the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities is not used for seal products resulting from a hunt which is conducted primarily for commercial reasons, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to, where necessary and on the basis of evidence, prohibit the placing on the market or limit the quantity that may be placed on the market of seal products resulting from the hunt concerned. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. It is also important that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations with the countries of origin concerned and with relevant stakeholders. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to further specify the administrative arrangements for the recognition of bodies that may attest to the compliance with the conditions for the placing on the market of seal products and for the issuance and control of attesting documents, and the administrative provisions necessary for ensuring compliance with the conditions for the import of seal products for the personal use of travellers or their families, as well as to issue technical guidance notes. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5).

In order to facilitate the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 and of its exceptions, the Commission should inform the public and competent authorities, including customs authorities, of the provisions of that Regulation and of the rules under which seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit or other indigenous communities can be placed on the market.

Member States should report on a regular basis on the actions taken to implement Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009. On the basis of those reports, the Commission should report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, including the impact on the socioeconomic development of the Inuit and other indigenous communities.

Since the objective of this Regulation cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

In view of the extent to which trade in seal products is regulated in Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, as amended by this Regulation, Commission Regulation (EU) No 737/2010 (6) should be repealed.

Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly,

In Article 2, the following point is inserted:

Article 3 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 3

Conditions for placing on the market

• 1. 

  The placing on the market of seal products shall be allowed only where the seal products result from hunts conducted by Inuit or other indigenous communities, provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

The conditions set out in the first subparagraph shall apply at the time or point of import for imported seal products.

1a.   At the time of its being placed on the market, a seal product shall be accompanied by a document attesting compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 (“attesting document”).

An attesting document shall, upon request, be issued by a body recognised for that purpose by the Commission.

Such recognised bodies shall be independent, competent to carry out their functions and subject to an external audit.

• 2. 

  By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the import of seal products shall also be allowed where it is of an occasional nature and consists exclusively of goods for the personal use of travellers or their families. The nature and quantity of those goods shall not be such as to indicate that they are being imported for commercial reasons.

• 3. 

  The application of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not undermine the achievement of the objective of this Regulation.

• 4. 

  The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to further specify the administrative arrangements for the recognition of bodies that may attest to the compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article and for the issuance and control of attesting documents, as well as the administrative provisions necessary for ensuring compliance with paragraph 2 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 5(2).

• 5. 

  If there is evidence that a seal hunt is conducted primarily for commercial reasons, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 4a in order to prohibit the placing on the market or limit the quantity that may be placed on the market of seal products resulting from the hunt concerned. It is of particular importance that the Commission follow its usual practice and carry out consultations with experts, including Member States' experts, before adopting those delegated acts.

• 6. 

  The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to issue technical guidance notes setting out an indicative list of the codes of the Combined Nomenclature which may cover seal products subject to this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 5(2).’.

The following Article is inserted:

‘Article 4a

Exercise of the delegation

• 1. 

  The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

• 2. 

  The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 3(5) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 10 October 2015. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

• 3. 

  The delegation of power referred to in Article 3(5) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

• 4. 

  As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

• 5. 

  A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 3(5) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.’.

Article 5 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 5

Committee procedure

• 1. 

  The Commission shall be assisted by the committee established pursuant to Article 18(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (7). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).

• 2. 

  Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

• 3. 

  As regards implementing acts to be adopted pursuant to Article 3(4), where the committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

• (7) 

  Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1)."

• (8) 

  Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).’."

The following article is inserted:

‘Article 5a

Information

The Commission shall inform the public, with a view to raising their awareness, and competent authorities, including customs authorities, of the provisions of this Regulation and of the rules under which seal products resulting from hunts conducted by Inuit or other indigenous communities can be placed on the market.’.

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7

Reporting

• 1. 

  By 31 December 2018 and every four years thereafter, Member States shall submit to the Commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this Regulation.

• 2. 

  The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the implementation of this Regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period referred to in paragraph 1. The first report shall be submitted by 31 December 2019.

• 3. 

  In its reports submitted in accordance with paragraph 2, the Commission shall assess the functioning, effectiveness and impact of this Regulation in achieving its objective.’.