§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why 32W salt-cured herrings imported from Canada are charged duty when frozen herrings are not; and what proportion of salt-cured herrings are further processed and re-exported.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI have been asked to reply.
Under the common customs tariff—CCT—no customs duties are chargeable on frozen herring imported whole, headless or in pieces. For other imported herring the full CCT rate of duty is between 12 per cent. and 18 per cent. according to category. Due to the effect of stock conservation measures on Community supplies of herring to the processing industry, member States agreed in 1977 to the temporary total suspension of CCT duties on herring intended for processing, including both frozen fillets and salt-cured herring. Subsequently, one member State objected to continuation of the total suspension of duty on salt cured herring and, since duty suspensions cannot be continued without the unanimous agreement of member States, a rate of duty of 3 per cent. was applied from 1 July 1979 as a compromise. As a result of further objections from the same member State, the rate of duty was increased to 5 per cent. from 1 January 1980. The duty suspension at zero rate on fresh, chilled or frozen fillets of herring intended for processing continues.
Figures relating to the proportion of salt-cured herrings which are further processed and re-exported are not available.