HC Deb 19 November 1996 vol 285 c474W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that easy-spread butter is available to British consumers at the same price as ordinary butter. [4369]

Mrs. Browning

The European Commission has concluded that spreadable butter is ineligible for the preferential rate of duty which applies to imports of butter from New Zealand under the general agreement on tariffs and trade current access quota. This is a commercial matter which the New Zealand authorities are pursuing bilaterally with the Commission. Meantime, HM Customs and Excise has been notified of the Commission's conclusion and is acting upon it.