§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in assisting the Commission to prepare EU document 98/1457. [73790]
§ Mr. RookerCommission Regulation 1457/98 is a routine measure to control the quantities of fruit and vegetable exported with the benefit of export refunds, and the expenditure on such refunds, in order to ensure compliance with WTO commitments. The powers under which the Regulation was made were the subject of the opinion of all Member States. The operation of the system is a matter for Commission competence.