Amazon 'backs down' on sale of whale meat

The Seattle-based business, which wholly owns its Japanese subsidiary, has a stated policy of prohibiting the sale of unlicensed or illegal wildlife products including endangered species, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency. But EIA found 147 different whale products for sale on amazon.co.jp, including some from listed endangered species, in a December survey. Others came from Japan's legally disputed research whaling program. A check of the site early today using the Japanese symbol for whale meat found dozens of items still listed, but hours afters news of the investigation was published, the same search found no listings. In response to a request for comment from Amazon, a spokeswoman, Mary Osako, said: "The items you referenced are not available for sale." In the report, Amazon.com's Unpalatable Profits, launched with Humane Society International, the investigators bought eight whale products from Amazon Japan in 2011, including canned whale meat, whale jerky, whale bacon and whale stew. Analysis of some revealed excess mercury levels, and up to one-third lacked a species name on the label. Selling arrangements on Amazon Japan require third-party sellers to pay a 10 per cent commission for food and drink products, including whale products, on top of a 4900 yen ($57) monthly fee, the report said. The products are shipped direct from the seller in Amazon boxes. The groups called on Amazon to enact an immediate corporate-wide policy prohibiting the sale of all cetacean products. From: SMH