NUNAVUT
Inuit Tapirit Kanatami and the Fur Institute of Canada are appealing a ruling from a European court which rejected a challenge to the European Union's ban on imports of Canadian seal products.

The decision was made in an EU court on Oct. 26.

"We are continuing this fight, this is not over and it's just a temporary setback," said Rob Cahill, executive director of the Fur Institute of Canada, an organization representing the fur industry.

Earlier this year, Canadian and Greenlandic Inuit, as well as other plaintiffs, launched a legal action to annul the seal ban regulation and seek interim injunctions while the main case proceeds.

The proposed European Union ban on the importation of seal products in its member countries was suspended on Aug. 19, a day before the legislation would have come into force.

The European General Court clarified that suspension on Oct. 20, allowing the trade and manufacturing of seal products until the seal ban challenge is heard in court.

Cahill said the president of the European court is showing there is not a level of urgency in this case.

He added those involved in annulling the original ban put in their application in January 2010.

"What we've pled for is to have the courts not implement the ban until they hear our case," Cahill said.

Even with the latest decision, Qikiqtani Inuit Association president Okalik Eegeesiak said they are generally optimistic.

"That's a big disappointment for everyone up here. With it being reversed, it sets us back a bit," she said.

"We hope they are more supportive ... in the EU and around the world for renewable resource development."

Cahill said a decision on the annulment is expected sometime in the spring.

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