International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said Canada was very disappointed with the ruling.

''We believe strongly this violates the World Trade Organisation guidelines,'' he said, insisting the hunt was ''humanitarian, scientific and follows environmental rules of sustainability''.

In a decision taken without debate, EU foreign ministers adopted a ban on seal products from Canada, ruling the goods could not be marketed in the 27 EU nations. Three countries Denmark, Romania and Austria abstained with all others voting in favour.

Only products ''from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities to ensure their subsistence'' would be permitted under the ban.

But Inuit communities called the ban ''an abomination'', saying it ''directly attacks cultures, communities, and livelihoods that represent a basic means of living for many here in Canada''.

President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the national leader of Inuit in Canada, Mary Simon, said the ban was based on ''groundless accusations influenced by animal rights propaganda campaigns''.

Canadian Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said the regulation ''specifically prohibits the marketing of products resulting from sustainable and humane commercial hunts'', saying the vote was a violation of the EU's WTO commitments.

Canada had ''expected the EU to act on science instead of misinformation'' from the likes of ''professional anti-seal-hunt lobbyists''.

The European Commission denied the accusations, and defended the ban as both appropriate and legal. A spokesman for Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said, ''The legislation has neither protectionist intent nor effect. It is designed to give voice to a genuinely held concern of EU citizens.

''It applies to all seals, whether they are in the EC or in Canada or Norway and is entirely non-discriminatory.'' AFP