asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 16 April (WA 15-16), why, when Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the European Union and United Kingdom consumers can obtain food supplements and herbal remedies via the internet, they exerted pressure on those territories to conform with European Union obligations concerning the composition, presentation and marketing of such products. [HL3430]

Jersey and Guernsey are not members of the European Union, but have a relationship with the EU provided by Protocol 3 of the UK's treaty of accession to the European Community. This relationship provides for free movement of goods and trade between the islands and member states and directives apply to the Channel Islands where the principal purpose of the directive is to remove obstacles to the free movement of goods. The UK view is that both the Medicines Directive and the Food Supplements Directive apply because they are concerned with removing barriers to the free movement of goods by regulating content, sale and labelling.