To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department's export control office has had with the German Zollkriminalinstitut in Cologne about the application of the new law, the Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz, on sensitive export control and how the new arrangements will affect the operation of the single European market.
[holding answer 28 February 1992]: The German Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz, which controls the export of specifically military goods, was last amended in November 1990.On 23 January this year the Bundestag adopted a new law on export controls which significantly extends the powers of the customs authorities.The Department's Export Control Organisation has not had formal discussions with the German Zollkriminalinstitut on the application of the new German legislation on sensitive export controls. It is too early to tell how these new controls will affect the operation of the single European market: the EC is currently trying to reduce the number of border controls across the Community.