Brussels - The European Parliament has set the scene for a showdown with other European institutions and with the rest of the world by approving a strict import and trading ban on seals products.

In a vote held late Monday, a parliamentary committee agreed to limit the exemptions to a ban proposed by the European Commission by 25 votes in favour and seven against. It also ignored the view of their rapporteur, who had proposed a form of labelling rather than an outright ban.

Seal derivatives are found in a variety of products, including bags, motorcyclists' gloves and Omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

In July, the executive in Brussels proposed an EU-wide import ban only on products derived from seals that have been killed and skinned in cruel ways, for instance by being clubbed to death.

But lawmakers on Monday voted in favour of a complete ban and rejected granting exceptions to member states, arguing that it "would be impossible in practice to monitor compliance with the conditions under which a derogation would be granted."

At the same time, the committee did agree to relax the rules on seals hunted by Inuit indigenous peoples living in Greenland, Canada, Russia and the United States.

Monday's vote was welcomed by Socialist lawmakers but criticized by conservatives amid concerns that a complete ban might violate international trade rules.

The European Parliament will now have to work on a compromise with the European Commission and with national governments. (dpa)