Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he plans to ensure that the private sector adheres to the recently published interpretive notice by the European Union on the correct labelling of imported goods from illegal Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories; when it is expected to see, in physical terms, the introduction of labelling in the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45730/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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515. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he will take following the interpretive notice by the European Union on the correct labelling of imported goods from illegal Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will task inspection and enforcement bodies to pay attention to correct implementation of the interpretative notice, act in cases of mislabelling and ensure that penalties for mislabelling are effective, proportionate and dissuasive, as stipulated in Article 3 of the interpretative notice. [45731/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together.

I discussed the question of implementation of the Commission’s recent interpretive notice on place of origin labelling, or indication of origin, during my meeting with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 25 November.

The Interpretative Notice on Indications of Origin, published by the European Commission on 12 November, provides guidance to importers and retailers on how EU rules on place of origin labelling should be applied in the specific case of the occupied Palestinian territory.

It does not alter or extend existing EU rules that were already in force. As I indicated to the JCFAT, therefore, what arises is dissemination of the guidance rather than implementation. I am placing the Commission Notice on my Department’s website, and my Department has also written to other relevant Government Departments asking them to bring the Notice to the attention of relevant bodies. In addition, of course, the extensive media coverage of the Commission Notice will have brought it to the attention of many.

As there is no change in the rules, no new enforcement machinery or procedure arises. Accuracy of product labelling will continue to be a consumer protection issue, monitored and enforced as heretofore. This is a matter for all relevant Government Departments.