Newfoundland and Labrador has one less country to which it can export seal products. On January 8, 2013, Taiwan made amendments to existing legislation that would effectively ban exports and imports of live marine mammals and associated products such as fur and oil. The law will be implemented by the end of January at the earliest.
Once the fourth largest importer of seal oil, Taiwan has joined a number of countries that prohibit the trade of seal products, including the United States, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Mexico. The European Union also has a ban in place. Between 2003 and 2009, Taiwan imported 430, 000 kilograms of seal oil.
Read more: ROC greenlights tough wildlife conservation bill, Jan 9/2013
Further reading:
International Fund for Animal Welfare: Seal campaign
Humane Society of the United States: Seal campaign
