Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1975 > Committee of Public Accounts > Interim and Final Report - Appropriation Accounts 1972 - 1973

APPENDIX 14.

FRENCH IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON CARCASE LAMB

12 June, 1975.

Clerk,

Committee of Public Accounts,

Dail Éireann.

When I appeared before the Committee in April, I was asked to furnish a note on the French Import Restrictions on Carcase Lamb. I attach note setting out the required information.

M. J. BARRY,

Accounting Officer,

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

French Import Restrictions on Carcase Lamb

1. Imports of carcase lamb into France from the three new member States and from third countries are subject to the following restrictions:—

(a) the Common Customs Tariff of 20%—which is being reduced progressively against the new member States during the transitional period—it now stands at 8%;

(b) a minimum import (threshold) price system under which imports are prohibited when the French domestic lamb price falls below the threshold level;

(c) import licence fees (levies) which vary according as the French level of lamb market prices falls below a prescribed range of reference prices.

There are no similar restrictions or customs duties on lamb imports into France from the other original member States.

2. The accompanying table shows the threshold prices, the prescribed range of reference prices and the scales of import fees (levies) in operation in various periods since January 1972.

3. Since joining the Common Market Ireland has been seeking to have a common agricultural policy for sheep introduced. The EEC Commission are committed to putting forward proposals—these are now promised for mid-1975. The only member countries interested in sheep are the UK, France and Ireland and their interests in a common agricultural policy for sheep are unlikely to coincide. The UK presumably will wish to safeguard their rights to import New Zealand lamb with the minimum of trade restrictions; France will wish to protect her high price regime in the interests of their own sheep producers; this country will be seeking maximum freedom of trade within the Community and adequate protection against third country imports.