Written question asked by Phyllis Starkey (Labour) on Monday, 15 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 March 2010. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 2010 on behalf of the Treasury.

EU External Trade: Israel

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the contribution by the Exchequer Secretary of 27 January 2010, Official Report, column 319WH, on the EU-Israel trade agreement, what additional checks HM Revenue and Customs have undertaken on (a) known settlement producers and (b) imports of cosmetic products from Ahava.

Answer: To date, HM Revenue and Customs has considered imports of tahini and sweet peppers.It has added sweet peppers to the series of targeted physical examinations which the United Kingdom Border Agency is undertaking in respect of imports of fresh produce from Israel.It has not added tahini as the product attracts a nil rate of customs duty outside of the provisions of the EU-lsrael Association Agreement and, consequently, there is no scope for abuse of the preferential trade arrangements.HMRC has started to investigate exports made under the EU-lsrael Agreement by the Settlements companies listed in the 2009 research paper prepared by the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, which have economic links with the UK.While for reasons of commercial confidentiality HMRC cannot disclose information in respect of enquiries into exports made by specific companies, it has undertaken further checks in respect of a range of cosmetic products imported under the EU-lsrael Agreement over the last three years.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 507 c1022W; 322805
Session: 2009-10
Related items: EU-Israel Trade Agreement
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: EU external trade Israel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk