HC Deb 28 April 1976 vol 910 cc131-2W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning the EEC decision to reintroduce water-marking of imported newsprint from 1st July; and if he has made any request to the Community for a derogation of this regulation.

Mr. Meacher

The EEC requirement for watermarking imported newsprint has, for the purpose of the Community's annual duty-free tariff quota, been waived since the middle of 1974: the waiver is due to expire on 1st July 1976. In accordance with the wishes of most of the member States of the EEC, including the United Kingdom, the Commission has recently proposed an extension of the waiver for the rest of 1976. My Department has received support for such an extension from newspaper publishers in the United Kingdom.