HC Deb 21 July 1994 vol 247 cc513-4W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision by the European Court on exports from the Turkish-occupied sector of Cyprus to the European Union; how this is to be implemented; and what will be the main goods affected.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

In its judgment on 5 July, the European Court held that, under the Plant Health Directive and the EC/Cyprus association agreement, member states were precluded from accepting phytosanitary and origin certificates other than those issued by the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The United Kingdom has amended its practice to give effect to the ruling.

Most agricultural goods will be affected because they require phytosanitary certificates, and all goods will lose preferential access under the EC/Cyprus association agreement. The principal non-agricultural products affected are textiles.