asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of flour imports into the country for the years 1983 and 1984; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna - Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour Imports.
10.
Imports of flour amounted to 42,900 tonnes in 1983 and to 46,900 tonnes in 1984. On the basis of an annual usage of 230,000 tonnes of flour these imports represented about 18.6 per cent of requirements in 1983 and 20.4 per cent in 1984.
Under EC rules there is free trade in flour between member states and the imposition of restrictions on imports is not permitted. The question of possible abuse of a dominant position by UK exporters has been raised with the EC Commission, but that body have not accepted that the trading practices being followed by those exporters are contrary to Article 86 of the Treaty of Rome.