WRITTEN QUESTION No. 866/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Bananas
Date: 1998-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: International Labour Organisation, Latin America, World Trade Organisation, competition, environmental protection, export, generalised preferences, labour law, tariff preference, tropical fruit













EUR-Lex - 91998E0866 - EN






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91998E0866

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 866/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Bananas  


Official Journal C 310 , 09/10/1998 P. 0141 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0866/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1998)Subject: BananasHas the Commission taken any steps to promote better labour standards, including the right of association, with the Latin American banana-exporting companies?Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1998)The Community's scheme of generalized preferences (GSP) provides for special incentive arrangements concerning labour rights and environmental protection. These special incentive arrangements are to be granted in the form of additional tariff preferences to developing countries covered by the GSP, which respect the standards laid down in International labour organization (ILO) conventions Nos 87 and 98 concerning the application of the principles of the right to organize and to bargain collectively (and ILO convention No 138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment). A Commission proposal for the application of these special incentive arrangements is at present under discussion by the Council.Among the products covered by the GSP are plantains (other fresh bananas are not included) and dried bananas. The normal preferential duty applicable to these products is 85% of the common customs tariff duty. However the Andean group countries, the Central American common market countries and Panama are entitled to duty-free access for several specific products, including dried bananas, provided they continue their efforts to combat drugs.In view of the above, the Latin American banana exporting countries which do not benefit already from the special 'drugs regime' will, as GSP beneficiaries, be able to request, after the adoption and the entry into force of the said regulation, the application of the additional preferences for plantains and dried bananas, provided they can prove that they apply legislation incorporating the substance of the standards laid down in the aforementioned ILO conventions. However it should be noted that the other fresh bananas are not covered by the GSP.In addition, the Commission has provided funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in 'fair trade' initiatives, which promote products produced in accordance with social and environmental standards, including the respect of ILO conventions relating for example to the right to associate and the prohibition of child labour. Funded projects have included activities related to 'fair trade' bananas, which are now on the market in several Member States.The Commission has taken note of the growing interest in 'fair trade' products, and has been investigating what further support could be offered to 'fair trade' initiatives in a World trade organisation (WTO) compatible manner. The results of this investigation should be available in the near future. As part of this analysis, an Eurobarometer survey assessed the level of demand for 'fair trade' bananas. The results of this survey, which are of assistance to those who wish to promote 'fair trade' products, show that there is considerable demand from Community consumers.