Cosmetics: Israel

Dr. Starkey
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consignments of cosmetics were imported from (a) Israel and (b) Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in each of the last three years.

Mr. Timms
The term cosmetics covers a diverse range of products. Therefore the figures provided cover the most likely imports of interest—beauty and skin preparations, including skincare products and aftershave and bath preparations, deodorants and similar products.

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|                                                                 |Consignments|
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|Beauty and skin care preparations                                |            |
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|2007                                                             |246         |
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|2008                                                             |260         |
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|2009                                                             |370         |
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|                                                                 |            |
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|Aftershave and bath preparations, deodorants and similar products|            |
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|2007                                                             |41          |
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|2008                                                             |32          |
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|2009                                                             |47          |
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Checks have not revealed any imports of the above products from Palestine. The Occupied Palestinian Territories do not have their own country of origin code. Consequently, importers can only declare Israel or Palestine as the country of origin on the Customs import declaration.