asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make an order to insure that all imported goods and packaging are clearly marked as being of foreign manufacture; and if he will ensure that Irish manufacturers and distributors do not overstamp or erase such marks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marking of Imported Goods.
89.
I am not empowered to impose a blanket marking requirement of the kind suggested by the Deputy.
The Merchandise Marks Act, 1931, however, provides machinery for making orders prohibiting the importation or sale of specified imported goods without an indication of the country of origin. Under the Act, restriction orders relating to the importation and sale of imported wooden furniture were made in 1935 and an order relating to ceramic ware was made by the Government on 15th July, 1969. I expect to be in a position at an early date to submit to the Government draft orders relating to six other classes of goods. I have referred three further applications for examination to the Merchandise Marks Commission.
It would be an offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 to 1931 to overstamp or erase an indication of origin on imported goods required under a restriction order to bear such an indication. A considerable proportion of our imports already bears the names of producers or countries of origin abroad although not required to do so, and it would be an offence under the Acts to substitute an Irish manufacturer's or traders name in such a way as to indicate Irish origin.