Levies

Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levies. expressed in sterling per pound weight, are for (a) fruit. (b) vegetables and (c) sugar. [128821]

[holding answer 10 September 2003]: EU import duties on fresh fruit and vegetables are set for a range of products on an ad valorem basis. For some products, an additional or minimum sum based on an amount per kilo is payable. The relevant duty rate is applied to the customs value which is normally based on the price actually paid or payable for the goods. However, for certain products, simplified rules are in place which allow a standard unit value to be used as the customs value; these are updated fortnightly. The simplified procedure values in force from 29 August to 11 September are as follows:

Simplified procedure GIF values for certain perishable goods in pounds sterling per 100kg net Effective period 29/08/2003 to 11/09/2003
SPV Code	Description	Value/ 100kgs (£s)	Value/pence per pound
2.50	Guavas and mangoes, fresh	103.37	46.89
2.60	Sweet oranges, fresh
2.60.1	-Sanguines and semi-sangunes	29.89	13.56
2.60.2	-Navels, Navelines, Navelates, Salustianas, Vernas, Valencia lates, Maltese, Shamoutis, Ovalis, Trovita and Hamlins	32.33	14.66
2.60.3	-Others	29.94	13.58
2.70	Mandarins (including tangerines and satsumas), fresh; clementines, wilkings and similar citrus hybrids, fresh:
2.70.1	-Clementines	57.05	25.88
2.70.2	-Monreales and Satsumas	46.00	20.87
2.70.3	-Mandarins and wilkings	52.41	23.77
2.70.4	-Tangerines and others	47.05	21.34
2.85	Limes (Citrus aurantifolia), fresh	49.40	22.41
2.90	Grapefruit, fresh:
2.90.1	-white	35.49	16.10
2.90.2	-pink	62.00	21.12
2.100	Table grapes	0.00	0.0
2.100	Water melons	16.51	7.49
2.120	Melons (other than water melons):
2.120.1	-Amarillo, Cuper, Honey Dew (including Cantalene), Ontenient, Piel de Sapo (including Verde Liso), Rochet, Tendral, Futoro	85.16	38.63
2.120.2	-other	107.39	48.71
2.140	Pears
2.140.1	Pears—Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia)	0.00	0.0
2.140.2	Other	0.00	0.0
1.250	Apricots	146.89	66.63
2.160	Cherries	330.01	149.69
2.170	Peaches	0.00	0.0
2.180	Nectarines	0.00	0.0
2.190	Plums	0.00	0.0
2.200	Strawberries	272.15	123.45
2.205	Raspberries	210.99	95.70
2.210	Fruit of the species Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberries)	285.76	129.62
2.220	Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch)	120.14	54.50
2.230	Pomegranates	216.14	98.04
2.240	Khakis (including Sharon fruit)	236.07	107.08
2.250	Lychees	128.96	58.50

The current import duty on (non-preferential) sugar imported into the EU is 419 euros per tonne. This equivalent to about 13p per pound.

Volume 410: debated on Monday 15 September 2003