it's cool - I don't know how I missed that

<?php foreach($this->productsList as $product) : ?>
<option value="<?php echo $this->escape($product['product_code']);?>"><?php echo $this->escape($product['product_desc']) . ' - ' . $this->escape($product['product_format_desc']);?></option>
<?php endforeach; ?>

is there any way that you can get around the name clashes for ID on both tables?