European countries ban seal products

[JRB]

I don't think we can blame businesses in other countries for doing what we ask them to do. It is surely up to us to know our own laws. Peter

I bought the sporran as part of a kilt package and had no idea that it was seal skin. All the description on the website said about it was that it was a semi dress sporran. Had I know the sporran was seal skin, I wouldn't have purchased it just on ethical grounds even though I wasn't aware of the U.S. ban on seal at the time (1998).

[turpin]

There must be man-made substitutes for seal fur I'm sure. I have mixed feelings about using fur but I can see the other side too. One man's cuddly seal is another's pest ripping his nets and stealing his livelihood.

In my sporran-making research for materials I have come across seal-dyed muskrat. I haven't seen it first-hand, not held a sealskin sporran to compare it to, but I plan to give it a try anyhow. I suppose I'd have to send the customer a certificate of origin, though.