Caroline Lucas today welcomed an historic EU-wide vote to outlaw the trade in goods made of controversial Canadian sealskins.

She said: "As one of the co-sponsors of the original Declaration which, almost 3 years ago, called for a ban on the import of seal products, I am delighted that [the EU] Parliament has finally voted in favour of a ban. This vote is a victory for the global campaign against animal cruelty, and a victory for European democracy.

"Nearly one million seals are slaughtered annually in commercial seal hunts around the world, and the products of those slaughters - primarily fur - are legally traded in the EU. By closing the door on fur and other seal products, Parliament has taken meaningful action to reduce the scale of cruel commercial seal killing.

"Thankfully, compromises such as replacing a proposed ban with a labelling system have been strongly rejected, meaning that we can fully meet the expectations and demands of millions of European citizens.

"I am optimistic that this ban on the trade in seal products will save hundreds of thousands of seals from being clubbed and shot under cruel conditions in Canada and elsewhere."

Lucas concluded: "I remember many meetings with Commission officials at which we were told a ban on the trade of seal products would be impossible. This vote goes to show that, with political will, the support of NGOs and the overwhelming balance of public opinion, seemingly impossible things become possible."

For further information on the Canadian seal hunt visit www.ifaw.org