Written question asked by Christopher Chope (Conservative) on Friday, 17 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 July 1998. It was answered by Ian McCartney (Labour) on Thursday, 30 July 1998 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what representations she made to the European Court and to the European Commission on behalf of British consumers prior to the ECJ ruling in the Silhouette case. - (Holding answer 21 July 1998).

Answer: Mr. Chope: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she made to the European Court and to the European Commission on behalf of British consumers prior to the ECJ ruling in the Silhouette case. [51666] Mr. Ian McCartney: [holding answer 21 July 1998]: The previous government submitted written observations to the European Court of Justice in February 1997. These observations confirmed that, as a matter of law, the 1989 European Community Directive on trade marks gave brand owners no power to prevent the import of trade-marked goods once they had been put on the market with their consent anywhere in the Community, but did give them power to prevent the import of goods put on the market with their consent elsewhere in the world.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 51666; 317 c552W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Consumers EU action Manufactured goods Trade marks European Court of Justice