RAMALLAH, December 12, 2009 (WAFA)- The UK government has published advice to help provide clarity to traders and retailers who want to offer their consumers more information about the origin of produce from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

On its webpage, the British Foreign and Common Wealth Office (FCO) said that the decision reflects the belief that consumers should be able to choose for themselves what produce they buy. In preparing this advice the government has been closely guided by the various views expressed by consumers and retailers.

Particular consideration was given to the views expressed at a roundtable held in March by the Cabinet Office, which brought together retailers, government departments and other interested parties.

The FCO clarified that “this is emphatically not a call for a boycott of Israel, which we believe would do nothing to advance the peace process.The FCO opposes any such boycott of Israel and has been very clear both in public and in private that settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace.”