§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are applied at present to the import of apples; which foreign countries are affected; who imposed the restrictions; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. RyderThe import licensing arrangements and quantitative restrictions imposed by the European Commission earlier this year on apples from third countries lapsed on 31 August; consequently, no such restrictions are currently applicable.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by which European Community organisation restrictions on apple imports are determined.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual production of apples in the European Community in each of the most recent five years for which figures or estimates are available; and what is the level of European Community demand for apples.
§ Mr. RyderProduction of apples in the Community over the last five years for which figures are available was as follows:
'000 tonnes 1983 6,612 1984 8,340 1985 6,903 1986 9,168 1987 17,969 1 Provisional. The figures for 1986 and 1987 include production in Spain and Portugal. Consumption of unprocessed apples in the Community in 1986 was of the order of 6 million tonnes.