Written question asked by Phyllis Starkey (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 January 2010. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 11 January 2010 on behalf of the Treasury.

Imports: Israel

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009, Official Report, column 579W, on agricultural products: Israel, what (a) the importer, (b) the nature of the produce, (c) the name of the settlement in which the consignment originated and (d) the person or organisation responsible for misidentification was in the case of each of the six consignments wrongly claiming Israeli preferential origin; what sanctions were imposed by HM Revenue and Customs in respect of each consignment; and against whom.

Answer: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cannot disclose the names of specific importers/exporters. The information requested in relation to the name of the settlement is not available because no place of production was shown on the proof of origin and HMRC had firm doubts about the origin of the goods.The identified products were three consignments of wine, two consignments of snacks/soft drinks and one consignment of chocolates. HMRC refused preferential tariff treatment and the UK importer was required to pay the full rate of customs duty on the consignments concerned.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 503 c766-7W; 309039
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Agricultural Products: Israel
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Imports Israel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk