asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to reports that South African coal is being imported into this country falsely designated as the coal of other countries, such as Holland or Swaziland; if he is taking any steps to determine the extent of these imports; if he will make it compulsory to designate all coal on sale by country or origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Importations of South African Coal.
22.
Coal imported from Holland and Swaziland accounts for less than 2 per cent of our total coal imports and there is no evidence to suggest that any of this coal originates from South Africa.
As regards making it compulsory to designate all coal by country or origin, I indicated to the Deputy in reply to a similar question in May 1987 that legislation of this nature has in the past been found by the European Court of Justice to be in breach of the Treaty of Rome. I do not propose therefore to introduce an origin marking requirement in respect of coal.