Thank you for your department's Explanatory Memorandum 7580/07 which was considered by Sub Committee A at their meeting on 8 May. The Sub Committee noted that the proposal had already been adopted and consider this item to be a scrutiny override. The Sub Committee would be grateful if you would provide more detail of reception the proposal received from Member States: did any oppose it? What position did the United Kingdom take?

  The Sub Committee would also be interested to know whether any food processors in the UK will be affected by this measure, and whether you received any representations from British-owned organisations that use frozen strawberries.

9 May 2007

  Thank you for your letter of 9 May seeking further information on the Commission's proposal to impose definitive measures on imports of frozen strawberries originating in China.

  The Commission initially, and prior to the preparation of the document on 7580/07, had drafted a very different proposal recommending that no definitive anti-dumping duties should be imposed. That proposal was sent to the Member States on 19 February and received a very hostile reception, particularly from Member States who generally favour anti-dumping measures. It was due to be discussed at an Anti-Dumping Committee meeting on 6 March and, as it did not then entail the imposition of measures, would not have been subject to Parliamentary Scrutiny. However on 2 March, four days before the Committee meeting, the Commission reversed its previous recommendation and issued a new proposal imposing anti-dumping duties in the form of a Minimum Import Price (MIP).

  This was clearly subject to scrutiny, but because of the Commission's delay in issuing its revised proposal, it was not possible to prepare the explanatory memorandum before the decision was taken.

  With regards to your specific questions, I can inform you that a total of 17 Member States supported the revised proposal for definitive measures in the form of a MIP. Aside from the UK, only six other Member States (Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden) opposed the Commission's proposal and three abstained. The UK's position was determined on the basis of an economic analysis which showed that the imposition of anti-dumping measures would seriously affect food processors. This view reflected representations received from the UK Sweet Spreads Association (UKSSA). This Association represents manufacturers of jam who are a major purchaser of frozen strawberries. Other importers include manufacturers of yoghurt and ice cream. Frozen strawberries are not sold directly to consumers as I am informed that they are not fit for human consumption prior to processing. I have also been informed by DEFRA that UK production of strawberries is almost exclusively of fresh strawberries which are sold directly to consumers and that there is no cultivation of strawberries for freezing.

7 June 2007