Press Release: Anti-torture rules: Trade MEPs call for bans on goods marketing and EU transit

The European Parliament's international trade committee voted on 22 September 2015 to strengthen rules against torture and capital punishment. Members of the committee defended that goods or substances that might be misused for torture or execution should not be promoted for export, so as to prevent their spread.

The committee proposed to widen the ban already imposed to include services, e.g. marketing in expos or online catalogues, but also finance, transport and insurance. They also defended the need to ban transit of prohibited goods via the European Union and to add a 'catch-all' clause to allow checks on dubious new ones.

In January 2014, the European Commission made the proposal to review the Regulation 1236/2005 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The European Parliament was scheduled to vote in plenary on this review in November 2015.

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-amending-council-regulation-ec-no-1236-2005-concerning-trade-in-certain-goods-which-could-be-used-for-capital-punishment-tort/

---