Official Journal of the European Union 31.10.2009REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCILof 16 September 2009on trade in seal products(Text with EEA relevance)THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO­PEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu­nity, and in particular Article 95 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(1) Opinion delivered on 26 February 2009 (not yet published in the Offi­cial Journal). (1),Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(2) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 May 2009 (not yet publishedin the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 27 July 2009. (2),Whereas:(1) Seals are sentient beings that can experience pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering. In its declaration on ban­ning seal products in the European Union(3) OJ C 30...