91997E3944

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3944/97 by Guido Viceconte (UPE) to the Commission (4 December 1997)

Subject: Imports of textile goods and failure to comply with Community labelling rules

For about a year, the Italian market has been invaded by non-Community textile products imported through a triangle of states (Bangladesh-UK-Italy) so as to evade Community rules and quotas.

More specifically, these textile imports are in breach Community labelling rules as they carry no indication of their composition or country of origin, and they are causing considerable economic damage to Community products and, in particular, are harming local economies, such as the textile centre of Barletta, which is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises which make a vital contribution to GDP and to employment in Southern Italy by manufacturing finished knitted and woven articles which comply fully with Community rules on consumer protection.

Will the Commission therefore say:

1. whether it is aware of this anomalous and most unsatisfactory situation which is harming more than 300 firms in Apulia?

2. What action it intends to take, and when, to put an end to these breaches of competition law, protect the interests of European consumers and guarantee them correct information?

3. What measures it intends to take to step up checks at the EU's external borders on imports of textile goods which breach Community rules?

4. Whether it plans measures to give the above-mentioned firms financial compensation for the economic losses they have suffered?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (9 January 1998)

Quotas under the Multifibre Agreement have been established for the Community as a whole since 1 January 1992. With regard to Bangladesh, there is no restriction on quantity, merely administrative cooperation provisions providing for a double control based on the granting of export and import licences.

Directive 96/74/EC on textile names, as amended by Directive 97/37/EC ((Commission Directive 97/37/EC of 19 June 1997 adapting to technical progress Annexes I and II to Directive 96/74/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile names, OJ L 169, 27.6.1997. )), stipulates that textile products may not be placed on the market within the Community unless they satisfy the provisions of the abovementioned Directives. Where such products are offered to the ultimate consumer they must bear a label indicating their fibre content.

Labelling of the country of origin is not compulsory at Community level, though some Member States do require it.

If the textile products imported into the Community from Bangladesh fail to satisfy the Directive's labelling provisions, the parties concerned may lodge a complaint with the Commission.