Competition From Channel Islands

EDM number 152 in 2008-09, proposed by Brian Iddon on 08/12/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Competition, International trade and Medicine.

That this House welcomes the sympathetic consideration given by Ministers to representations made by right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of the natural health products industry about problems with unfair and illegal competition from the Channel Islands; particularly welcomes the Government's considered view that the Nutrition and Health Claim Regulation, the Food Supplements Directive and the Medicines Directive do apply to the Channel Islands under Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Accession; remains concerned that businesses from the Channel Islands continue to market directly to the United Kingdom mainland products which contain illegal ingredients or which are promoted using illegal claims thus jeopardising consumer safety; notes that in many cases such products also benefit from low value consignment relief and avoid liability for value added tax, seriously undermining the competitiveness of responsible UK suppliers; encourages Ministers to remain actively engaged in addressing these issues; and calls on the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the Food Standards Agency, Royal Mail, the Advertising Standards Authority, the Direct Marketing Association and trading standards officers to take urgent enforcement action and to continue to engage with the authorities in the Channel Islands to secure the effective implementation of the legislation without further delay.

This motion has been signed by a total of 18 MPs.