HC Deb 18 January 1995 vol 252 cc556-7W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking to ensure that the wool content declarations for imported garments and carpets are correct.

Mr. Ian Taylor

EC Directive 71/307/EEC, as amended, requires textile products which are placed on the market to bear or be accompanied by an accurate indication of their fibre content. The directive is implemented in the United Kingdom by the Textile Products (Indications of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986, as amended by the Textile Products (Indications of Fibre Content) (Amendment) Regulations of 1988 and 1994, which are enforced by local authority trading standards departments. The European Commission pursues complaints about the manner in which member states have implemented and enforced the requirements of the directive. Following representations by my Department, I am informed that the Commission has instituted infraction proceedings against Italy for incorrect implementation of the directive.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next plans to meet chief trading standards officers to discuss imports of wool content garments and carpets.

Mr. Ian Taylor

I have no such plans. The Department's actions in this area are set out in my reply of today to the hon. Member.