51998PC0171(01)

Proposal for Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats (98/C 136/08) COM(1998) 171 final - 98/0098(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 19 March 1998)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Whereas in February 1997 the Commission presented a Note to the Council of Ministers and to the European Parliament on the olive and olive oil sector, concluding on the need for a reform of the current common organisation of the market in oils and fats; whereas that Note and the options for reform set out therein have been discussed within the Community institutions; whereas opinions concur on the need for reform; whereas, however, with a view to determining the best approach, more reliable information must be obtained, in particular on the number of olive trees in the Community, the areas planted and yields; whereas, given the time required to gather and analyse such data, the Commission has undertaken to present a proposal for a reform in the course of 2000 for application from the 2001/02 marketing year;

Whereas experience has shown that some adjustments need to be made in the near future to the current common organisation of the market to reduce the difficulties of operators in the sector, improve checks conducted by the national authorities and protect the Community budget better; whereas provision should be made for the necessary adjustments to the present market organisation and the relevant prices and amounts should be fixed for the marketing years from 1998/99 to 2000/01;

Whereas Article 5 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC (1) provides for production aid fixed on a flat-rate basis for producers whose average production does not exceed 500 kg; whereas the measure was intended in particular to reduce the administrative cost of checks of entitlement to the aid; whereas, however, changes to the production aid scheme, and in particular the rise in the proportion of expenditure on aid paid to small producers and the increase in the aid, have transformed the two-tier system of aid to producers into a source of fraud; whereas the provisions relating specifically to aid for small producers should accordingly be deleted;

Whereas the stabiliser mechanism for production aid is currently based on a maximum guaranteed quantity for the Community as a whole; whereas the maximum guaranteed quantity should be increased to take account of production trends;

Whereas, to encourage a responsible level of production in each Member State, that maximum guaranteed quantity should be apportioned among the producer Member States; whereas the apportionment should essentially be based on production over a representative period, taking no account of extreme production years; whereas, however, account should be taken of the specific allocation of aid previously granted to small producers and of the production potential of olive groves in Spain and Portugal;

Whereas, in order to ensure some solidarity between producers in the European Union, overruns of national guaranteed quantities should be offset, where applicable, by the quantities available within the maximum guaranteed quantity in the other Member States;

Whereas the production aid is payable to the olive growers; whereas the latter must receive the aid in full, irrespective of the various reductions provided for in the Community rules;

Whereas consumption aid cannot be increased without a risk of fraud and it is ineffective at its present level; whereas in the past it was reduced sharply without adverse effect on the consumption of olive oil in the Community; whereas abolishing it would enable checks of the production aid scheme to be stepped up, in particular by the inspection agencies provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84 (2); whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3089/78 of 19 December 1978 laying down general rules in respect of aid for the consumption of olive oil (3) must therefore be repealed;

Whereas the provisions for promoting the consumption of olive oil in the Member States and third countries should be maintained, clarified and strengthened; whereas such measures are intended to establish better balance on the market and as a consequence the relevant expenditure should be deemed intervention within the meaning of Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (4); whereas those provisions call for certain technical adaptations to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1970/80 (5); whereas that Regulation should be repealed and its provisions incorporated, with the requisite amendments, in Regulation No 136/66/EEC;

Whereas the system of public buying-in constitutes a production incentive which is liable to destabilise the market; whereas, if the supply of olive oil is to be regulated, buying-in must be discontinued and a system of private storage contracts by groups or associations within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 952/97 (6); should be applied; whereas the references to the intervention price must accordingly be deleted or replaced;

Whereas the definitions of the categories of virgin olive oil in the Annex to Regulation No 136/66/EEC refer to an organoleptic assessment based on a particular method; whereas methods of sensory analysis have improved recently, although they retain an inherent risk of some subjectivity; whereas the definitions in question should be amended to refer, where necessary, to more effective analysis methods;

Whereas, in order to improve knowledge of and checks on the production of olive oil at the level of the individual producer, special attention should be paid to work on the olive cultivation register during the 1998/99 to 2000/01 marketing years; whereas, to take account of experienced gained, the method used for other crops in the context of the Integrated Administration and Control System should also be applied for the olive cultivation register; whereas the Commission must therefore determine the measures to be taken and the arrangements and criteria to be complied with to achieve the creation of a Geographical Information System; whereas it is therefore necessary, to derogate from Regulation (EEC) No 154/75 (7) and Regulation (EEC) No 2261/84 (8);

Whereas the options for the reform may encourage producers to plant new olive trees; whereas such new plantings would seriously jeopardise the future balance of the market, which is currently already in surplus; whereas, in order to forestall that risk, provision should be made at this stage to exclude new plantings from eligibility under any future aid scheme, unless they are part of a programme approved by the Commission; whereas, owing to the time elapsing between the presentation of the Commission's proposal and its adoption, plantings from the month following the date when operators are notified of the Commission's intention in this respect should also be ineligible;

Whereas the need for a reform of the olive oil sector stems from the ultimate impossibility of maintaining certain measures provided for in Regulation No 136/66/EEC; whereas, despite the transitional adjustments provided for herein, the measures in question should be repealed with effect from 1 November 2001,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation No 136/66/EEC is amended as follows:

1. In Article 2a(2), the words 'intervention price` are replaced by the following:

'production target price, less production aid and an amount taking account of market variations and the costs of transporting the olive oil from the areas of production to the areas of consumption,`.

2. Article 4 is replaced by the following:

'Article 4

1. A production target price shall be fixed for the Community

That price shall be fixed at the wholesale marketing stage for ordinary virgin olive oil with a free fatty acid content expressed as oleic acid of 3,3 g/100 g.

2. For the 1998/99 to 2000/01 marketing years, the production target price provided for in paragraph 1 shall be ECU 383,77/100 kg.

3. Save as otherwise decided by the Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, the olive oil marketing year shall run from 1 November to 31 October of the following year.`

3. Article 5 is replaced by the following:

'Article 5

1. Production aid shall be granted for olive oil. Such aid shall be intended to contribute towards establishing a fair income for producers.

The aid shall be granted to olive growers on the basis of the quantity of olive oil they actually produce.

Without prejudice to the different reductions provided for in the Community rules, the aid shall be paid in full to the olive growers.

2. For the 1998/1999 to 2000/2001 marketing years, the unit amount of the production aid provided for in paragraph 1 shall be ECU 142,20/100 kg.

3. The maximum quantity of olive oil to which the aid provided for in paragraph 1 shall apply shall be 1 562 400 tonnes per marketing year. That maximum guaranteed quantity shall be apportioned among the Member States as follows (national guaranteed quantities):

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4. Where actual production in any marketing year in certain Member States is less than their national guaranteed quantities, the sum of the shortfalls in question shall be distributed among the other Member States in proportion to their national guaranteed quantities.

The aid fixed in paragraph 2 shall be granted in those Member States whose actual production recognised as eligible for the aid is lower than or equal to their national guaranteed quantities, plus any increase in accordance with the first subparagraph.

In the other Member States, the unit aid granted shall be equal to the amount fixed in paragraph 2, multiplied by a coefficient. That coefficient shall be arrived at by dividing the national guaranteed quantity of the Member State concerned, plus any increase in accordance with the first subparagraph, by the actual production recognised as eligible for the aid.

5. With a view to checks of the quantity of olive oil eligible for the aid, olive and olive oil yields shall be fixed for each marketing year per homogeneous production area.

6. Recognised producer organisations and associations thereof may be associated in the work of determining actual production as referred to in paragraph 4 and of establishing yields as referred to in paragraph 5.

7. A percentage of the production aid allocated to all or some producers shall be used to finance regional measures to improve the quality of oil production and its environmental impact in each producer Member State.

For the 1998/1999 to 2000/2001 marketing years, the percentage referred to in the first subparagraph shall amount to 1,4 % of the production aid allocated to olive oil producers.

8. Acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, the Council shall lay down general rules for applying this Article.

9. The yields referred to in paragraph 5 and the detailed rules for applying this Article shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 38 of this Regulation and, where applicable, with that provided for in Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70.`

4. Articles 5a, 7 and 8 are deleted.

5. Article 11 is replaced by the following:

'Article 11

1. The Community may undertake measures directly or indirectly in the Member States or third countries to provide information or to promote the consumption of olive oil produced in the Community.

The measures referred to in the first subparagraph may entail the following:

(a) dissemination of existing knowledge, in particular regarding the nutritional qualities of olive oil;

(b) market studies to expand the market for olive oil;

(c) publicity, public relations and promotional campaigns to encourage the consumption of olive oil, in particular with a view to stressing its quality, and of products prepared with olive oil;

(d) research work, in particular covering scientific study of the nutritional aspects of olive oil;

(e) study to assess the results of promotional campaigns.

2. The Commission shall send the Council a programme of measures it contemplates undertaking during the following marketing year(s). With a view to drawing up the programme, the Commission may in particular consult bodies specialising in market studies and publicity campaigns and research institutes.

3. The Commission shall decide on the measures listed in paragraph 1 after consulting the Management Committee for Oils and Fats in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 39.

4. Expenditure incurred on measures as referred to in paragraph 1 may be financed at a rate of 100 % by the Community and shall be deemed intervention within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70.

5. Detailed rules for applying this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38.`

6. The first paragraph of Article 11a is replaced by the following:

'The individual Member States shall take the necessary steps to penalise infringements of the aid scheme provided for in Article 5. Where infringements are reported by the inspection agencies provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84, they shall decide on action to be taken within 12 months of the report.`

7. Article 12 is deleted.

8. Article 12a is replaced by the following:

'Article 12a

In the event of serious disturbance of the market in certain regions of the Community, a decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 to authorise producer groups and associations thereof recognised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 952/97 to conclude contracts for the storage of olive oil that they market.`

9. Article 20(2) is deleted.

10. The last subparagraph of Article 20a(2) and Article 20a(4) are deleted.

11. Article 20d(1) is replaced by the following:

'1. A percentage of the production aid shall be withheld from the amount paid to recognised producer groups and associations thereof under this Regulation. The resulting amount shall go towards the financing of activities under Article 5(6) and Article 20c.

For the 1998/1999 to 2000/2001 marketing years, the percentage of the production aid referred to in the first subparagraph shall be 0,8 %.`

12. Article 20d(3) is deleted.

13. Point 1 of the Annex is replaced by the following:

'1. Virgin olive oils:

Oils obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means under conditions, particularly thermal conditions, that do not lead to alterations in the oil, and which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration, to the exclusion of oils obtained using solvents or re-esterification processes and any mixture with oils of other kinds.

Virgin olive oils are classified and described as follows:

(a) Extra virgin olive oil:

Virgin olive oil having a maximum free acidity, in terms of oleic acid, of 1 g per 100 g, the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down for this category.

(b) Virgin olive oil (the expression "fine virgin oil" may be used at the production and wholesale stage):

Virgin olive oil having a maximum free acidity, in terms of oleic acid, of 2 g per 100 g, the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down for this category.

(c) Ordinary virgin olive oil:

Virgin olive oil having a maximum free acidity, in terms of oleic acid, of 3,3 g per 100 g, the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down for this category.

(d) Lampante virgin olive oil:

Virgin olive oil having a free acidity, in terms of oleic acid, of more than 3,3 g per 100 g and/or the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down for this category.`

Article 2

1. Notwithstanding Regulation (EEC) No 154/75, work on the olive cultivation register during the 1998/1999 to 2000/2001 marketing years shall focus on the creation, updating and utilisation of a geographic information system (GIS).

The GIS shall be created using the data from the olive cultivation register. Additional data shall be supplied from the crop declarations attached to the aid applications. The information in the GIS shall be located using computerised aerial photographs.

2. The Member States shall verify that the information in the crop declarations corresponds to the information in the GIS. If this information does not correspond, the Member State shall carry out verifications and on-the-spot checks.

The Commission shall determine the detailed rules and criteria for ensuring correspondence as referred to in the first subparagraph and the acceptable tolerance. It shall also lay down the detailed rules and intensity for the verifications and on-the-spot checks to be carried out during each of the three marketing years from 1998/1999 to 2000/2001.

3. If, during the verifications and checks referred to in paragraph 2, the information in the crop declaration is found to be incorrect, particularly as regards the number of olive trees, the Member State shall apply, for one or more marketing years, and depending on the size of the discrepancies observed:

- a reduction in the quantity of olive oil eligible for aid, or

- exclusion of the olive trees concerned from eligibility for the aid,

in accordance with rules and criteria to be laid down by the Commission.

4. The Commission shall adopt the measures to be taken and the detailed rules, criteria and intensity of checks to be laid down under this Article for the 1998/1999 to 2000/2001 marketing years, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC.

5. The measures provided for in this Article shall apply by way of derogation from those laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2261/84 as regards crop declarations and their links with the aid.

Article 3

1. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC, the Commission may adopt the measures required for a smooth changeover from the arrangements in force for the 1997/98 marketing year to those resulting from the measures introduced by this Regulation.

2. On a proposal from the Commission to be presented in 2000, the Council shall decide on measures to replace the common organisation of the market in oils and fats established by Regulation No 136/66/EEC as from 1 November 2001.

Article 4

No aid under the common organisation of the market in oils and fats in force from 1 November 2001 may be paid to olive growers in respect of additional olive trees or the relevant areas planted after 1 May 1998 and those not covered by a cultivation declaration at a date to be determined.

However:

- additional olive trees in connection with the conversion of an old olive plantation, or

- new plantings

on areas covered by a programme approved by the Commission may be taken into account within certain limits still to be determined.

Detailed rules for applying this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC.

Article 5

Articles 5, 11a, 12a, 13 and 20a of Regulation No 136/66/EEC are repealed with effect from 1 November 2001.

Regulations (EEC) No 3089/78 and No 1970/80 are repealed.

Article 6

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 November 1998.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

(1) OJ 172, 30.9.1966, p. 3025/66. Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1581/96 (OJ L 206, 16.8.1996, p. 11).

(2) OJ L 208, 3.8.1984, p. 11. Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2599/97 (OJ L 351, 23.12.1997, p. 17).

(3) OJ L 369, 29.12.1978, p. 12. Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1582/96 (OJ L 206, 16.8.1996, p. 13).

(4) OJ L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13. Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1287/95 (OJ L 125, 8.6.1995, p. 1).

(5) OJ L 192, 26.7.1980, p. 5. Amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1651/86 (OJ L 145, 30.5.1986, p. 10).

(6) OJ L 142, 2.6.1997, p. 30.

(7) OJ L 19, 24.1.1975, p. 1. Last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3788/85 (OJ L 367, 31.12.1985 p. 1).

(8) OJ L 208, 3.8.1984, p. 1. Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 636/95 (OJ L 67, 25.3.1995, p. 1).