Humane Trapping Standards -These are the Issues:

Source: High North News, no. 10. May 15, 1995.

International Solution: In 1987 the International Standardisation Organisation started its work on developing international standards for humane traps. The process was initiated by Canada.

EU Regulations: In November 1991 the EU Commission adopted a regulation (No. 3254/91) prohibiting the use of leghold traps in the Union.

The Trade Stick: The regulation also forbids the introduction into the Union of pelts from countries that have not banned the leghold trap or adopted internationally agreed upon humane trapping standards. The ban comes into effect on January 1 1996. The EU regulation was meant to be tied to the ISO process. “Should there eventually be a “humane” leghold trap that meets the agreed international humane trapping standard, the Commission’s present proposal does allow for the use of such a method,” the EU Commission assures Canada in a letter dated August 1989. In November 1990, it assures them that “should a humane trap be introduced for a species on the list ... no ban will be introduced to products of that species.”

The EU Changes its Position: Under pressure from animal welfare organisations, the EU changed its interpretation of the “or” in the regulation to be interpreted as an “and”. To avoid the EU ban on imports, exporting countries must meet both international humane trapping standards and prohibit the leghold trap.

Inconsistency: The regulation requires countries outside the EU to meet international humane trapping standards, but not the EU itself. The EU has not adopted any regulations for other traps than the leghold trap, and many of the traps still in use might be considered less humane than the modern version of the leghold trap.

The Term “Humane” Removed: As a result of the EU countries’ involvement in the ISO process from 1991, the word “humane” has been deleted from the title of the ISO standard and it is now entitled “Animal (mammal) Trap Standard” . In this way, the EU can claim that there is no longer any obligational bond between their trapping regulation and the ISO process.

The GATT Consultations: In April 1994, Canada asked the EU for consultations on the EU fur import regulations. The negotiations have not been successful.