Whale Products

HC Deb 16 April 1980 vol 982 cc662-3W

Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ban the importation of whale products into Great Britain.

Mr. Monro

The import of the primary products of all cetaceans is controlled under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. For baleen whales no licences are issued but for sperm whales imports are at present allowed under licence. The United Kingdom has written to the EEC suggesting a ban on the import into the EEC of the primary products of all whales from 1 January 1982. It is understood that a draft regulation is under consideration by the Commissioner of the EEC and should be submitted shortly for agreement by the Council of Ministers.