Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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634. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 6 April 2016, the steps he is taking to ensure correct labelling of goods from Israeli settlements, as per European Union guidelines; the details of the correct labelling of such goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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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 have indicated previously, therefore, what arises is dissemination of the guidance rather than implementation. I have placed 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 any relevant bodies with which they engage. 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.