EU sets new guidelines on labeling of goods from Israeli settlements

Labour MEPs have welcomed new European Union guidelines on imports from Israeli settlements, which state Israeli producers must explicitly label farm goods and cosmetics that come from the settlements when they are sold in the EU, according to a press release. Afzal Khan, North West MEP and Vice-Chair Security and Defense in the European Parliament, said: “Consumers have a right to know where the goods they buy are coming from. Israeli settlements are illegal by International law and they underpin much of the conflict and violence in the region today. “This new EU regulation will highlight how the conflict plays a role in our everyday lives and will allow people to make an informed decision about where their money is going. “It will send a clear message to Israel that they are subject to the same level of scrutiny as every other nation and that their actions will not go unquestioned.” Richard Howitt MEP, Labour's European Parliament spokesperson on foreign affairs and chair of the working group on the Middle East and North Africa, said: "European rules already say the origin of a product should be on its label, and it is regrettable how long the European Union has taken to apply this to Israeli settlements, but the pressure exerted has finally paid off. "This move is not a boycott but I hope it will signal to Israel that Europe is willing to consider using its economic power to incentivize peace, and that it represents an extra pressure for meaningful talks to establish a just peace with Palestinians. "These goods are coming from illegal settlements that are not part of sovereign Israel. As a consumer, I will choose not to buy them and, as a politician, I hope it may help lead to an end to settlement expansion as part of comprehensive moves towards peace." Jude Kirton-Darling MEP, member of the European Parliament international trade committee, said: "When the EU signs a free trade agreement, this comes with responsibilities for our trading partners. EU law makes it clear that goods from illegal settlements should be labeled as such. "In July, the European Centre for Foreign Relations produced a report which demonstrated that the EU's own legal rules mean we shouldn't just be labeling goods from the illegal settlements but also services. "I have been asking the European Commission to clarify its position in this respect." — SG