European Union ban on seal products

[4] Both Canada and Norway are insistent on the fact that the seals are killed in an ethical manner and argued that ruling would potentially set a dangerous precedent going forward because it was based on morality and not science.

The decision reached by the WTO appellate will only spark more debates as to determine how such a controversial ban can be implemented when it had upheld some of its prior rulings while overturning others.

[6] They upheld the initial findings of the committee that the EU Seal Regime was in violation of the most-favored nation status of the GATT agreement.

The appellate body upheld the panel's findings that the EU Seal Regime was "necessary to protect public morals" .

[6] Sheryl Fink, IFAW's wildlife campaigns director, blasted what she called "the desperate, last-ditch effort" to have the ban overturned.

"The ruling confirms yet again that animal welfare concerns are a legitimate reason for WTO members to regulate trade, and that the EU is justified in banning the importation and sale of products from cruel commercial hunting of seals," Fink said.