The Fur Institute of Canada remains to be an important information source in respect to what’s happening to the fur trade today. They are the watchdogs on Canadian fur trade. They monitor what is happening domestically here in Canada and Internationally.

The big issue for 2010/2011 fiscal year is the European Seal Ban. Inuit groups along with non-native sealing groups have launched a court case against the European Government for their legislation which bans all seal skin pelts and seal skin bi-products from entering Europe. European Union consists of 27 European countries. The ban applies to all the 27 European countries. The European ban in 1982 applied to white-coat pelts only. The white coats are normally seal pups from the day; they are born to seven days. But the current ban applies to all seals and any bi-products of seals which include seal oil used as a vitamin called omega-3. The legal challenge at the general court of the European Union; seeking to overturn E.U. regulation 1007/2009, which bans the placing on the market of seal products in the E.U. and sets a precedent of “immorality” concerning the commercial use of wildlife products. The challenge consists of two separate applications from a collection of twenty Canadian and Internationally-based plaintiffs versus the European Parliament and Council, and the European Commission, respectively. F.I.C. jointly coordinates the cases along with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (Coordinating Canadian and Greenlandic Inuit Interests). The follow through of these initiatives has evoked measures reaction by the European Union, prompting temporary suspension of the ban’s implementation in August 2010. Presently, members of the plaintiff group are awaiting a hearing on admissibility for the first application. The F.I.C. and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (I.T.K.) have undertaken funding efforts to fund the case which saw funds received by Inuit Organizations, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments, Trade Associations, European Hunting Federations and Fur Trade Interests.

F.I.C. has a Board composed of representatives from all membership categories to a maximum of 24. It also has an Executive Committee composed of the chairman (Bruce Williams), three vice-chairs, a treasurer and a secretary. F.I.C. is organized with five sub-committees:

1.) Trap Research and Development Committee
2.) International Relations and Conservation Committee
3.) Communications Committee
4.) Aboriginal Communications Committee
5.) Sealing Committee

All the Committees have specific mandates, responsibilities and terms of reference. Each sub-committee has a chairman. Each committee is charged with a responsibility to seek funding for their projects.

The Canadian Wildlife Directors, Competent Authorities for implementation of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS), have approved a 3-phase process for implementing the AIHTS in Canada.

The following lists show the three phases for regulating species-specific traps: (1) the certified traps regulated for specific species; (2) certified traps that are not regulated at this time, pending development of testing technologies; and, (3) the future addition of cage and box traps. The traps listed by name have all been certified as meeting the requirements of the AIHTS for specific species, through the Canadian trap-testing program administered by the Fur Institute of Canada.

Phase 1. STARTED IN FALL 2007 - Certified Traps are regulated for trapping the following species:
Check with your provincial or territorial government for regulations related to trap uses applicable in your trapping area.

CERTIFIED trap models are given exclusive identification letters that
manufacturers must mark on their traps. Trappers who purchased these
same trap models before the implementation of the AIHTS (2007) may still
legally use them, regardless of whether they bear this mark.

Note: New additions to this list are marked in BOLD.

Phase 2. YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION TO BE DETERMINED - Certified Traps to be regulated in the future for trapping the following species: Although the traps listed in Phase 2 are certified for the following species and trap categories, the year of entry into force of the obligation to use only AIHTS Certified traps has not yet been determined. This date, which could vary from one species to another, will be known at least 3 years in advance. Until then, traps that are currently legally permitted can still be used.

Check with your provincial or territorial government for regulations related to trap uses applicable in your trapping area.

Phase 3. YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION TO BE DETERMINED - Cage and box traps to be regulated in the future for
capturing the following species:

This information can be obtained by calling their office in Ottawa (613)-231-7099 or by writing to them at their office in Ottawa at the following address:
Fur Institute of Canada
331 Cooper Street
Suite 701
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0G5
Or through their e-mail address: info@fur.ca

FUR INSTITUE OF CANADA - Certified Traps List