Written question asked by Phyllis Starkey (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 May 2001. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the EU Association Committee will consider at its meeting in May to stop the import into the EU under preferences of goods labelled, made in Israel which originate in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories.

Answer: Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the EU Association Committee will consider at its meeting in May to stop the import into the EU under preferences of goods labelled "made in Israel" which originate in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. [158807] Mr. Vaz: The EU/Israel Association committee will discuss goods from settlements under the agenda item entitled "Rules of Origin". We expect the EU to raise the post-verification requests for certificates of origin and to remind the Israelis that they have until June 2001 to respond. In consultation with the European Commission, the UK and other members states are carrying out a post- verification exercise in relation to a number of goods exported to the EU and described as Israeli. These are goods which benefit from preferential access to the EU under the origin protocol in the EU/Israel Association agreement. The UK continues to support the Commission's efforts to establish whether any infringement of the EU/Israel Association agreement has taken place.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 158807; 367 c627W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: EU external trade Import controls Imports Origin marking Trade agreements Israel Occupied territories EU-Israel Association Committee
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk