MEP welcomes chocolate ruling

12.00.00am GMT Fri 17th Jan 2003

West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne welcomed yesterday's ruling by the European Court of Justice that Spanish and Italian restrictions on the sale of British chocolate are illegal.

The ruling hopefully puts an end to a 30-year wrangle.

Liz commented:

"Yesterday's news will be a boost for Cadbury's workers in Bournville and Marlbrook."

"Too many countries in the EU continue to pursue protectionist policies wrapped in jargon about consumer rights. This case proves the system works. However, like France's illegal ban on British beef it has gone on for far too long. The EU Parliament and Council came to an agreement on this issue two years ago, slightly fudging the issue by allowing British-style chocolate to be sold across Europe as 'family milk chocolate'. Yet Italy and Spain have been free to defy this knowing it would be years while the case was dragged through the courts.

"We need a system that allows the Commission to implement EU rules and regulations without going down the curly-wurly route of the Court of Justice. Without this reform, the EU's ability to implement its own laws will continue to look distinctly flakey."