ISSN 1725-2555 |
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Official Journal of the European Union |
L 32 |
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English edition |
Legislation |
Volume 51 |
Contents |
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I Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory |
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REGULATIONS |
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II Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory |
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DECISIONS |
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Commission |
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2008/96/EC |
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2008/97/EC |
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Commission Decision of 30 January 2008 amending Decision 93/52/EEC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) and Decision 2003/467/EC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis and that certain administrative regions of Poland are officially free of enzootic bovine leucosis (notified under document number C(2008) 324) ( 1 ) |
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(1) Text with EEA relevance |
EN |
Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period. The titles of all other Acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk. |
I Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory
REGULATIONS
6.2.2008 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 32/1 |
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 104/2008
of 5 February 2008
establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 of 21 December 2007 laying down implementing rules of Council Regulations (EC) No 2200/96, (EC) No 2201/96 and (EC) No 1182/2007 in the fruit and vegetable sector (1), and in particular Article 138(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) |
Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto. |
(2) |
In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The standard import values referred to in Article 138 of Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex hereto.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 February 2008.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 February 2008.
For the Commission
Jean-Luc DEMARTY
Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
ANNEX
to Commission Regulation of 5 February 2008 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
(EUR/100 kg) |
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CN code |
Third country code (1) |
Standard import value |
0702 00 00 |
IL |
143,2 |
JO |
84,0 |
|
MA |
41,7 |
|
SN |
192,7 |
|
TN |
111,3 |
|
TR |
92,2 |
|
ZZ |
110,9 |
|
0707 00 05 |
EG |
201,7 |
JO |
202,1 |
|
MA |
52,1 |
|
TR |
112,7 |
|
ZZ |
142,2 |
|
0709 90 70 |
MA |
56,6 |
TR |
125,0 |
|
ZA |
79,4 |
|
ZZ |
87,0 |
|
0709 90 80 |
EG |
191,8 |
ZZ |
191,8 |
|
0805 10 20 |
EG |
45,6 |
IL |
58,4 |
|
MA |
64,2 |
|
TN |
51,4 |
|
TR |
70,3 |
|
ZZ |
58,0 |
|
0805 20 10 |
IL |
107,2 |
MA |
102,6 |
|
TR |
101,8 |
|
ZZ |
103,9 |
|
0805 20 30 , 0805 20 50 , 0805 20 70 , 0805 20 90 |
CN |
84,5 |
EG |
62,2 |
|
IL |
74,7 |
|
JM |
97,0 |
|
MA |
134,9 |
|
PK |
46,3 |
|
TR |
76,1 |
|
US |
60,6 |
|
ZZ |
79,5 |
|
0805 50 10 |
EG |
63,7 |
IL |
120,5 |
|
MA |
81,7 |
|
TR |
113,4 |
|
ZZ |
94,8 |
|
0808 10 80 |
CA |
87,1 |
CN |
75,1 |
|
MK |
39,9 |
|
US |
113,1 |
|
ZZ |
78,8 |
|
0808 20 50 |
CN |
49,0 |
US |
111,5 |
|
ZA |
96,5 |
|
ZZ |
85,7 |
(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1833/2006 (OJ L 354, 14.12.2006, p. 19). Code ‘ ZZ ’ stands for ‘of other origin’.
6.2.2008 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 32/3 |
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 105/2008
of 5 February 2008
laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (1), and in particular Articles 10 and 40 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) |
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 (2) lays down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter and cream. Council Regulation (EC) No 1152/2007 of 26 September 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (3) amended the provisions concerning intervention and private storage for butter and cream. In view of those new arrangements and in the light of the experience gained, it is appropriate to amend and, where necessary simplify the detailed rules governing intervention on the market in butter and cream. In the interests of clarity Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation. |
(2) |
Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 lays down the criteria under which butter has to be bought at fixed price or through invitation to tender and under which circumstances buying-in is to be suspended. Practical arrangements should be provided concerning the buying-in process. To ensure compliance with the requirements as to the quality and presentation of the butter at the time when the offer is submitted, and after its entry into storage, sellers should be required to submit a written commitment to that effect together with their offer. Offers should also be accompanied by a security, in order to guarantee that the offer will be maintained and that the butter of the required quality will be delivered within time limits to be laid down. |
(3) |
To be eligible for intervention butter should meet the requirements laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as well as the conditions of quality and presentation, which need to be defined. The methods of analysis and detailed rules governing quality control should also be specified and, if the situation so requires, provision should be made for checks of radioactivity in butter, the maximum levels of which need to be established, where appropriate, by Community legislation. However, it should be possible for Member States to authorise a system of self checking, subject to certain conditions. |
(4) |
To ensure that the intervention arrangements function smoothly, it is necessary to specify the conditions for the approval of manufacturing undertakings and verification of compliance therewith. To ensure that the arrangements are effective, provision should be made for action to be taken if these conditions are not complied with. Since butter may be bought in by a competent body belonging to a Member State other than that on whose territory it was produced, the competent body which does the buying-in should in such cases be able to verify that the conditions relating to quality and presentation are complied with. |
(5) |
Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 stipulates that buying-in is to be carried out by tendering procedure. The Commission may decide to suspend intervention buying-in once a certain quantity offered for intervention has been reached. In order to put the Commission in the position to take such a decision, provisions should be adopted for the Commission to monitor the quantity of butter offered for public intervention. |
(6) |
Once these quantities have been reached, the Commission may also decide to carry on buying-in by way of a standing tendering procedure. Relevant detailed rules should be determined. To ensure that all interested parties in the Community are treated equally, invitations to tender should be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. The details of the tender, particularly the minimum quantity, deadlines for submission and the maximum buying-in price should be defined. |
(7) |
It should be possible to guarantee the quality of the butter, and the terms of buying-in by means of checks at different stages during storage. Failure to comply with the requirements should not impose an additional burden on the Community budget. Provision should therefore be made for sub-standard butter to be taken back by the operator, who should be obliged to bear the storage costs incurred. |
(8) |
The Member States' obligations should be specified with a view to the proper management of stocks in storage, by stipulating a maximum distance for the place of storage and the costs to be borne when that distance is exceeded, and requiring, in particular, that stocks be accessible, that batches be identified and that butter in storage be insured against risks. In order to ensure a uniform frequency and level of checks, it is necessary to specify the nature and number of inspections of storage premises to be performed by the national authorities. |
(9) |
Proper management of intervention stock requires the butter to be resold as soon as outlets become available. In order to better manage quantities and to avoid destabilising the market, the selling price should be set following a tendering procedure. Conditions for sale, entailing the lodging of a security should be laid down, particularly as regards the time limits for payment. Tenderers should have the possibility to distinguish between sweet cream and sour cream butter in their offer and the selling price fixed may vary according to the location of the butter offered for sale. |
(10) |
Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides for aid to be granted for the private storage of butter. To ensure that the arrangements can be monitored properly, provision should be made for a contract and a set of specifications regarding storage conditions. For the same reason, detailed rules should also be laid down regarding documentation, accounting and the frequency of checks and inspection procedures, particularly in respect of the requirements laid down in Article 6(3). To facilitate checks on the presence of the butter stored under private storage contracts, there should be provision for them to be removed from storage in whole lots unless the Member State authorises removal of a smaller quantity. |
(11) |
To ensure that the private storage scheme is properly managed, it is appropriate to fix annually the amount of the aid. The dates of entry into storage and the dates on which storers may remove from storage, storage periods and aid amounts may be changed to take account of the market situation. |
(12) |
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for milk and milk products, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
CHAPTER I
SCOPE
Article 1
1. This Regulation lays down the detailed rules for applying the following intervention measures in the milk and milk products sector as provided for in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999:
(a) |
public storage:
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(b) |
private storage aid of butter. |
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union shall be considered as a single Member State.
3. For the purpose of this Regulation ‘competent body’ means the paying agency or, where appropriate, the body assigned by the paying agency as referred to in Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 (4).
CHAPTER II
PUBLIC STORAGE
SECTION 1
Conditions for buying in butter
Article 2
The competent body shall buy in only butter which meets the requirements of the first subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 and of Article 3 of this Regulation and which is offered for intervention in the period from 1 March to 31 August of any year.
Article 3
1. The competent body shall check the quality of butter using the methods described in Annex I and on the basis of samples taken in accordance with the rules set out in Annex II. However, Member States may, subject to written agreement of the Commission, set up a system of self checking under their own supervision in respect of certain quality requirements and in the case of certain approved undertakings.
2. Levels of radioactivity in butter may not exceed the maximum levels permitted, where applicable, under Community rules.
The level of radioactive contamination of butter shall be monitored only if the situation so requires, and during the requisite period. Where necessary, the duration and scope of checks shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 42 of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.
3. The butter shall have been made during the 23 days preceding the day on which the competent body received the offer to sell.
4. The minimum quantity of butter offered shall be 10 tonnes. Member States may require butter to be offered by the full tonne only.
5. Butter shall be packaged and delivered in blocks of at least 25 kilograms net.
6. Butter shall be packed in new, strong material in such a way as to ensure it is protected throughout transportation, storage and removal from storage. The packaging shall show at least the following particulars, where appropriate in code:
(a) |
the approval number identifying the factory and the Member State of production; |
(b) |
the date of production; |
(c) |
the date of entry into storage; |
(d) |
the production batch number and the package number; the package number may be replaced by a pallet number marked on the pallet; |
(e) |
the words ‘sweet cream’ if the aqueous phase of the butter has the corresponding pH. |
Member States may waive the obligation to show the date of entry into storage on the packaging, provided that the store manager undertakes to keep a register in which the particulars referred to in the first subparagraph are recorded on the date of entry into storage.
Article 4
1. Undertakings as referred to in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 shall be approved only if they:
(a) |
are approved in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) and have the appropriate technical equipment; |
(b) |
undertake to keep permanent records in the form determined by the competent body of each Member State, listing the supplier and origin of the raw materials, the quantities of butter obtained and the packaging, identification and exit date of each production batch intended for public intervention; |
(c) |
agree to submit their production of butter to a specific official inspection; |
(d) |
undertake to inform the competent body, at least two working days in advance, of their intention to produce butter for public intervention; however, the Member State may set a shorter time limit. |
2. To ensure compliance with this Regulation, the competent body shall carry out unannounced on-the-spot inspections, on the basis of the intervention butter production schedule of the undertakings concerned.
They shall carry out at least:
(a) |
one inspection per period of 28 days of production for intervention with at least one inspection every year, to examine the records referred to in paragraph 1(b); |
(b) |
one inspection every year, to verify compliance with the other conditions for approval referred to in paragraph 1. |
3. Approval shall be withdrawn if the preconditions laid down in paragraph 1(a) are no longer satisfied. Approval may be regranted at the request of the undertaking concerned after a period of at least six months, following a thorough inspection.
Except in cases of force majeure, where an undertaking is found not to have complied with one of its commitments as referred to in paragraph 1(b), (c) and (d), approval shall be suspended for a period of between one and 12 months depending on the seriousness of the irregularity.
The Member State may decide not to impose suspension where it is established that the irregularity was not committed deliberately or as a result of serious negligence and it is of minor importance with regard to the effectiveness of the inspections provided for in paragraph 2.
4. A report shall be drawn up on the inspections carried out pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3, specifying:
(a) |
the date of the inspection; |
(b) |
the duration of the inspections; |
(c) |
the operations carried out. |
The report shall be signed by the inspector responsible.
Article 5
1. Where butter is offered to intervention in a Member State other than that in which it was produced, buying-in shall be subject to the presentation of a certificate supplied by the competent body of the Member State of production.
The certificate shall be presented to the competent body of the purchasing Member State not later than 45 days after the day on which the offer was received and shall contain the information referred to in Article 3(6)(a), (b) and (d) of this Regulation, and a confirmation that the butter has been produced directly and exclusively from pasteurised cream within the meaning of Article 6(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999, in an approved undertaking in the Community.
2. Where the Member State of production has performed the checks referred to in Article 3(1) of this Regulation, the certificate shall also contain the results of those checks and confirm that the product concerned is butter fulfilling the requirements of the first subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999. In that case, the packaging referred to in Article 3(6) of this Regulation must be sealed by means of a numbered label issued by the competent body of the Member State of production. The certificate shall contain the number of the label.
SECTION 2
Procedure for buying-in of butter at fixed price
Article 6
Buying-in of butter at 90 % of the intervention price pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
Article 7
1. Sellers shall submit a written offer against issuance of a receipt, or by any written means of telecommunication with proof of receipt.
2. Offers shall contain:
(a) |
the name and address of the seller; |
(b) |
the quantity offered; |
(c) |
the name and the approval number of the undertaking approved under Article 4(1); |
(d) |
the dates of manufacture of the butter; |
(e) |
the place where the butter is held. |
3. Offers shall be valid only if:
(a) |
they relate to a quantity of butter meeting the requirements of Article 3(4); |
(b) |
they are accompanied by a written commitment by the seller to comply with Article 11(2); |
(c) |
proof is furnished that the seller has lodged a security of EUR 5 per 100 kg in the Member State in which the offer was submitted no later than the day on which the offer is received. |
4. The commitment provided for in paragraph 3(b), if forwarded initially to the competent body, shall be deemed to be tacitly renewed for subsequent offers until explicitly cancelled by the seller or by the competent body, provided that:
(a) |
the original offer stipulates that the seller intends to avail of the provisions of this paragraph; |
(b) |
subsequent offers refer to the provisions of this paragraph and to the date of the original offer. |
5. The competent body shall record the day on which the offer was received, the quantities involved and their respective dates of manufacture and the place where the butter offered is stored.
6. Offers may not be withdrawn after they have been received by the competent body.
Article 8
Maintenance of the offer, delivery of butter to the cold store designated by the competent body within the time limit laid down in Article 9(2) of this Regulation and compliance with the requirements of Article 2 of this Regulation shall constitute primary requirements within the meaning of Article 20 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 (6).
Article 9
1. After checking the offer, and within five working days following the day of receipt of the offer to sell, the competent body shall issue a dated and numbered delivery order showing:
(a) |
the quantity to be delivered; |
(b) |
the final date for delivery of the butter; |
(c) |
the cold store to which it must be delivered. |
2. Within 21 days of the day of receipt of the offer to sell, the seller shall deliver the butter to the loading bay of the cold store. Delivery may be in several consignments.
Any costs incurred in unloading the butter at the loading bay of the cold store shall be borne by the seller.
3. The security referred to in Article 7(3)(c) shall be released as soon as the seller has delivered all the quantity indicated on the delivery order within the time limit laid down therein and conformity with the requirements laid down in Article 2 has been established.
Where the butter does not conform to the requirements laid down in Article 2 the butter shall be rejected and the security shall be forfeit in respect of the quantity rejected.
4. Except in cases of force majeure, where the seller fails to deliver the butter within the time limit laid down in the delivery order, the security provided for in Article 7(3)(c) shall be forfeit in proportion to the quantities not delivered and buying-in shall be cancelled in respect of these quantities not yet delivered.
5. For the purpose of this Article, the butter shall be deemed to be delivered to the competent body on the day when the full quantity of butter covered by the offer enters the cold store designated by the competent body, but no earlier than the day following that on which the delivery order was issued.
6. The rights and obligations resulting from the sale shall not be transferable.
Article 10
1. The paying agency shall pay the seller for each quantity of butter taken over, between the 45th and 65th day after the day of the taking over, provided that conformity with the requirements of Articles 2 and 3 has been established.
2. For the purpose of this Article, the day of the taking over shall mean the day on which the butter enters the cold store designated by the competent body, but no earlier than the day following that on which the delivery order referred to in Article 9(1) was issued.
Article 11
1. The butter shall be put through a trial storage period. This period shall be fixed at 30 days starting from the day of taking over.
2. By their offers, sellers shall undertake that, where the inspection on entry into the store designated by the competent body shows that the butter does not meet the requirements of Articles 2 and 3, or where, at the end of the trial storage period, the minimum organoleptic quality of the butter proves to be below that set in Annex I:
(a) |
they will take back the butter in question and |
(b) |
they will pay the storage costs of the butter concerned from the day on which it was taken over until the date of its removal from storage. |
The storage costs to be paid shall be determined on the basis of the standard amounts for entry, removal and storage costs laid down pursuant to Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1883/78 (7).
Article 12
1. Not later than 12 noon (Brussels time) of each Tuesday, the competent body shall inform the Commission of the quantities of butter which, during the preceding week, have been the subject of an offer to sell in accordance with Article 7.
2. Once it is observed that the offers in a certain year approach 18 000 tonnes, the Commission shall inform Member States as of which date they shall communicate the information referred to in paragraph 1 every day before 12 noon (Brussels time) for the quantities of butter offered the preceding day.
Once it is observed that the offers in a certain year exceed the quantity of 30 000 tonnes referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 buying-in may be suspended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 42(2) of that Regulation.
In the case of suspension of buying-in in accordance with the second subparagraph of this paragraph, no new offers shall be accepted as of the day following the day of the entry into force of the decision suspending buying-in.
SECTION 3
Procedure for buying-in of butter by tendering
Article 13
1. Where the Commission decides in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 to start buying-in butter through an open standing invitation to tender pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 6(1) of that Regulation, Articles 2 and 3(1)(2)(4) to (6) and Articles 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 of this Regulation shall apply unless otherwise provided in this Section.
2. A notice of invitation to tender shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
3. The time limit for the submission of tenders in response to the individual invitations to tender shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the third Tuesday of the month. However, in August it shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the fourth Tuesday. If Tuesday is a public holiday the time limit shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the previous working day.
Article 14
1. Interested parties shall participate in the tendering procedure announced by the competent body of a Member State either by submitting a written tender against issuance of a receipt, or by any written means of telecommunication with proof of receipt.
2. Tenders shall contain:
(a) |
the name and address of the tenderer; |
(b) |
the quantity offered; |
(c) |
the proposed price per 100 kilograms of butter, exclusive of national taxes and charges, delivered to the loading bay of the cold store, expressed in EUR to no more than two decimal places; |
(d) |
the name and the approval number of the undertaking approved under Article 4(1); |
(e) |
the dates of manufacture of the butter; |
(f) |
the place where the butter is held. |
3. Tenders shall be valid only if:
(a) |
they relate to a quantity of butter meeting the requirements of Article 3(4); |
(b) |
the butter has been produced during 31 days preceding the closing date of the tender; |
(c) |
they are accompanied by the written commitment by the tenderer to comply with Article 11(2); |
(d) |
proof is furnished that the tenderer has lodged a security of EUR 5 per 100 kg for the invitation to tender concerned, in the Member State in which the tender was submitted, before the time limit referred to in Article 13(3) for submission of tenders. |
4. The commitment provided for in paragraph 3(c), if forwarded initially to the competent body, shall be deemed to be tacitly renewed for subsequent tenders until explicitly cancelled by the tenderer or by the competent body, provided that:
(a) |
the original tender stipulates that the tenderer intends to avail himself of the provisions of this paragraph; |
(b) |
subsequent tenders refer to the provisions of this paragraph and to the date of the original tender. |
5. The competent body shall record the day on which the tender was received, the quantities involved and their respective dates of manufacture and the place where the butter offered is stored.
6. Tenders may not be withdrawn after the time limit referred to in Article 13(3) for the submission of tenders relating to the invitation to tender concerned.
Article 15
Maintenance of the tender after the time limit for submission of tenders, delivery of the butter to the cold store designated by the competent body within the time limit laid down in Article 18(3) of this Regulation and compliance with the requirements of Article 2 of this Regulation, shall constitute primary requirements within the meaning of Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85.
Article 16
1. On the day of the lapse of the time limit referred to in Article 13(3), the competent body shall inform the Commission of the quantities and prices offered by tenderers.
If no offers have been submitted the competent body communicates this to the Commission within the same time limit.
2. In the light of the tenders received for each invitation to tender, the Commission shall fix a maximum buying-in price, by reference to the intervention prices applicable, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.
A decision may be taken not to proceed with the invitation to tender.
Article 17
Tenders shall be rejected if the price proposed is higher than the maximum price referred to in Article 16(2), applying to the tendering procedure concerned.
Article 18
1. Tenderers shall be informed immediately by the competent body of the outcome of their participation in the tendering procedure.
Where tenders have been unsuccessful, the securities provided for in Article 14(3)(d) shall be released immediately.
The rights and obligations resulting from the tendering procedure shall not be transferable.
2. The competent body shall immediately issue to the successful tenderer a dated and numbered delivery order indicating:
(a) |
the quantity to be delivered; |
(b) |
the final date for delivery of the butter; |
(c) |
the cold store to which it shall be delivered. |
3. Within 21 days of the closing date for submission of tenders, the successful tenderer shall deliver the butter to the loading bay of the cold store. Delivery may be in several consignments.
Any costs incurred in unloading the butter at the loading bay of the cold store shall be borne by the successful tenderer.
4. The security provided for in Article 14(3)(d) shall be released as soon as the successful tenderer has delivered all the quantity indicated on the delivery order within the time limit laid down therein and the conformity with the requirements of Article 2 has been established.
Where the butter does not conform to the requirements laid down in Article 2, the butter shall be rejected and the security shall be forfeit in respect of the quantity rejected.
5. Except in cases of force majeure, where the successful tenderer fails to deliver the butter within the time limit laid down in the delivery order, the security provided for in Article 14(3)(d) shall be forfeit in proportion to the quantities not delivered, and buying-in shall be cancelled in respect of the quantities not yet delivered.
6. For the purpose of this Article, the butter shall be deemed to be delivered to the competent body on the day when the full quantity of butter covered by the delivery order enters the cold store designated by the competent body, but no earlier than the day following that on which the delivery order was issued.
SECTION 4
Entry into and removal from storage
Article 19
1. The Member States shall lay down technical standards for cold stores, providing in particular for a storage temperature equal or lower than – 15°C, and shall take any other measures necessary to ensure that the butter is properly conserved. The relevant risks shall be covered by insurance in the form of either a contractual obligation on storers or a comprehensive coverage of the liability borne by the competent body; the Member States may also act as their own insurers.
2. The competent body shall require that butter be delivered to the loading bay of the cold store, and be taken into storage and kept there, on pallets, in such a way as to create easily identifiable and readily accessible lots.
3. The competent body responsible for checks shall perform unannounced checks on the presence of the butter in store, in accordance with Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No 884/2006 (8).
Article 20
1. The competent body shall choose the nearest available cold store to the place where the butter is stored.
The maximum distance referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 shall be 350 kilometres.
However, the competent body may choose another store situated within the distance referred to in the second subparagraph, provided that the choice of that cold store does not result in additional storage costs.
The competent body may choose a cold store situated beyond that distance if the resulting expenditure, including storage and transport costs, is lower. In that case the competent body shall notify the Commission of its choice forthwith.
2. Where the competent body buying-in the butter is in a Member State other than the one in whose territory the offered butter is stored, no account shall be taken, in calculating the maximum distance referred to in paragraph 1 of the distance between the store of the vendor and the border of the Member State of the purchasing competent body.
3. Beyond the maximum distance referred to in paragraph 1, the additional transport costs borne by the paying agency shall be EUR 0,065 per tonne and per kilometre. The additional costs shall be borne by the paying agency only if the temperature of the butter does not exceed 6 °C on arrival at the cold store.
Article 21
At the time of removal from store the competent body shall, in the case of delivery outside of the cold store, make the butter available on pallets at the store's loading bay, loaded, where appropriate, onto the means of transport where this is a lorry or a railway wagon. The costs involved shall be borne by the paying agency and any stowage and depalletising costs shall be borne by the purchaser of the butter.
SECTION 5
Procedure for sales of butter by tendering
Article 22
1. Butter shall be sold by means of a standing invitation to tender.
2. Sales shall concern butter taken into storage before 1 June 2007.
3. A standing invitation to tender shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union at least eight days before the first closing date laid down for the submission of tenders.
4. The competent body shall draw up a notice of standing invitation to tender indicating in particular the time limit and the address for submission of tenders.
They shall also indicate, for the butter they hold:
(a) |
the locations of the cold store where the butter to be sold is stored, |
(b) |
the quantity for sale in each cold store and, if appropriate, the quantity of the butter referred to in Article 3(6)(e). |
5. The competent body shall keep an up-to-date list of the information referred to in paragraph 4, which they shall make available to interested parties on request. They shall publish updated lists at regular intervals in a form which shall be specified in the notice of standing invitation to tender.
6. The competent body shall make the necessary arrangements to enable interested parties:
(a) |
to examine samples of the butter put up for sale at their own expense before submitting a tender; |
(b) |
to verify the results of the analyses referred to in Annex I concerning fat, water and non-fat solids. |
Article 23
1. The competent body shall organise individual tendering rounds during the term of validity of the standing invitation to tender.
2. The time limit for the submission of tenders in response to the individual invitations to tender shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the third Tuesday of the month. However, in August it shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the fourth Tuesday and in December it shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the second Tuesday. If Tuesday is a public holiday the time limit shall be 11.00 (Brussels time) on the previous working day.
Article 24
1. Tenders under each individual round shall be submitted by written offer against issuance of a receipt, or by any written means of telecommunication with proof of receipt.
Tenders shall be submitted to the competent body holding the butter for which an offer is made.
2. Offers shall contain:
(a) |
the name and address of the tenderer; |
(b) |
the quantity desired; |
(c) |
the price in EUR tendered per 100 kilograms, not including national taxes and charges, delivered to the loading-bay of the cold store; |
(d) |
if appropriate, the cold store where the butter is held and as the case may be a substitute cold store; |
(e) |
if appropriate, an indication of the kind of butter referred to in Article 3(6)(e) for which the offer is being submitted. |
3. Offers shall not be valid unless:
(a) |
they relate to at least five tonnes or, if the quantity available in a cold store is less than five tonnes, to the actual quantity available; |
(b) |
proof is provided that the tenderer has lodged a tendering security of EUR 70 per tonne, in the Member State where the tender is submitted, for the tendering round in question before the time limit specified for submission of tenders referred to in Article 23(2). |
4. Tenders may not be withdrawn after the time limit referred to in Article 23(2).
Article 25
For the purposes of the tendering security provided for in Article 24(3)(b) of this Regulation, maintenance of the tenders after the time limit referred to in Article 23(2) of this Regulation and the payment of the price within the deadline laid down in Article 31(2) of this Regulation, shall constitute primary requirements within the meaning of Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85.
Article 26
1. On the day of the lapse of the time limit referred to in Article 23(2), the competent body shall inform the Commission of the quantities and prices offered by tenderers and the quantity of butter offered for sale.
If no offers have been submitted the competent body communicates this to the Commission within the same time limit if butter is available for sale in the Member State concerned.
2. A minimum selling price for the butter on the basis of the offers received under each round shall be fixed in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999. This price may vary according to the location of the quantities of butter offered for sale.
A decision may be taken to make no award under the round.
Article 27
Offers shall be rejected if the price offered is lower than the established minimum price.
Article 28
1. The competent body shall allocate the butter on the basis of its date of entry into storage, starting with the oldest product of the total quantity or, as the case may be, the oldest of the quantity of sweet or sour cream butter available in the cold store designated by the tenderer.
2. Without prejudice to Article 27, the successful tenderer shall be the tenderer offering the highest price. If the full quantity available is not allocated, the remainder shall be awarded to the other tenderers on the basis of the prices tendered, starting with the highest price.
3. Where acceptance of a tender would result in contracts being awarded in excess of the quantity of butter available in a particular cold store, only the quantity available shall be awarded to the tenderer in question.
However, the competent body may designate other cold stores to make up the quantity set out in the tender, provided the tenderer agrees.
4. Where acceptance of two or more tenders offering the same price for butter in a particular cold store would lead to contracts being awarded in excess of the quantity available, the award shall be made by allocating the quantity available in proportion to the quantities tendered for.
However, should such allocation lead to the award of quantities of less than five tonnes, the award shall be made by drawing lots.
5. Where after the acceptance of all successful tenders the quantity left in the store is less than 5 000 kg, this remaining quantity shall be offered by the competent body to the successful tenderers starting with the one who offered the highest price. The successful tenderer shall be offered the option to buy the remaining quantity for the same price as the one awarded to him.
Article 29
The rights and obligations resulting from the tendering procedure shall not be transferable.
Article 30
1. The competent body shall immediately inform tenderers of the outcome of their participation in the invitation to tender.
Securities provided for in Article 24(3)(b) lodged for unsuccessful tenders shall be released immediately.
2. Before removing the butter and within the period specified in Article 31(2), successful tenderers shall pay the paying agency the amount corresponding to their tender for each quantity that they wish to withdraw.
3. Except in cases of force majeure, if the successful tenderer has not complied with the requirement provided for in paragraph 2 the tendering security referred to in Article 24(3)(b) shall be forfeited and the sale of the quantities involved shall be cancelled.
Article 31
1. Once the amount referred to in Article 30(2) has been paid the competent body shall issue a removal order indicating:
(a) |
the quantity in respect of which the corresponding amount has been paid; |
(b) |
the cold store in which the butter is stored; |
(c) |
the final date for removal of the butter. |
2. Successful tenderers shall remove the butter awarded to them within 30 days following the end of the time period for the submission of tenders. Removal may be effected by instalments of not less than five tonnes each. However, where the quantity remaining in a cold store is less than five tonnes, that smaller quantity may be delivered.
Except in cases of force majeure, if the butter has not been removed within the period laid down in the first subparagraph, the cost of storing shall be borne by the successful tenderer from the day following that on which the period expired. Moreover, storage shall be at tenderer's risk.
3. The security lodged in accordance with Article 24(3)(b) shall be released immediately in respect of quantities removed within the period provided for in the first subparagraph of paragraph 2.
In the event of force majeure referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 2, the competent body shall take such action as it considers necessary having regard to the circumstances invoked.
CHAPTER III
PRIVATE STORAGE OF BUTTER
SECTION 1
Contract and storage conditions
Article 32
For the purposes of this Chapter the following definitions shall apply:
— |
‘storage lot’ means a quantity weighing at least one tonne and of homogeneous composition and quality, originating in a single factory, taken into storage in a single warehouse on a single day; |
— |
‘day of commencement of contractual storage’ means the day following that of entry into store. |
Article 33
A private storage contract may be concluded only for butter as referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.
Butter must have been produced in an undertaking approved in accordance with Article 4(1)(a), (b) and (c) of this Regulation during the 28 days preceding the day of commencement of contractual storage. Its radioactivity level shall not exceed the maximum permitted levels referred to in Article 3(2) of this Regulation.
Article 34
Contracts relating to the private storage of butter as referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 shall be concluded between the competent body of the Member State on whose territory the butter is stored and natural or legal persons hereinafter called ‘contractors’.
Article 35
1. Storage contracts shall be concluded in writing for one or more storage lots and shall include, in particular, provisions concerning:
(a) |
the quantity of butter to which the contract applies; |
(b) |
the amount of the aid; |
(c) |
the dates relating to the execution of the contract, without prejudice to the fourth subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999; |
(d) |
the identity of the cold stores. |
2. The control measures, particularly those referred to in Article 40 of this Regulation and the information referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article shall be the subject of specifications drawn up by the competent body of the Member State of storage. The storage contract shall refer to those specifications.
3. The specifications shall provide that the packaging of the butter shows at least the following particulars, which may be encoded, where appropriate:
(a) |
the number identifying the factory and the Member State of production; |
(b) |
the date of production; |
(c) |
the date of entry into storage; |
(d) |
the production batch number; |
(e) |
the word ‘salted’ in the case of butter as referred to in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999; |
(f) |
the net weight. |
Member States may waive the obligation to indicate the date of entry into store on the packaging provided the store manager undertakes to keep a register in which the particulars referred to in the first subparagraph are entered on the date of entry into store.
Article 36
1. Entry into store may take place only between 1 March and 15 August of any year. Removal from store may take place only as from 16 August of the year of storage. Contractual storage shall end on the day preceding that of the removal from storage or at the latest the last day of February following the entry into store.
2. Removal from store shall be in whole storage lots or, if the competent body so authorises, in smaller quantities. However, in the circumstances referred to in Article 40(2)(a) only a sealed quantity may be removed from store.
Article 37
1. Applications to conclude a contract with the competent body may relate only to lots of butter which have been fully taken into storage.
Applications must reach the competent body within 30 days of the date of entry into cold store. The competent body shall register their date of receipt.
If the application reaches the competent body within 10 working days following the deadline, the storage contract may still be concluded but the aid shall be reduced by 30 %.
2. Storage contracts shall be concluded within 30 days of the date of registration of the application subject, where appropriate, to subsequent confirmation of the eligibility of the butter as referred to in Article 40(1) second subparagraph. In the case where the eligibility is not confirmed, the contract concerned shall be considered as null and void.
Article 38
1. Where the butter is stored in a Member State other than the Member State of production, conclusion of the storage contract referred to in Article 34 shall be subject to presentation of a certificate.
The certificate shall contain the information specified in Article 35(3)(a), (b) and (d) and confirm that the butter has been produced in an approved undertaking which is subject to checks verifying that the butter is produced from cream or milk within the meaning of Article 6(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.
The certificate shall be supplied by the competent body of the Member State of production within 50 days of the date of the butter's entry into storage.
In the case referred to in the first subparagraph of this Article, storage contracts shall be concluded within 60 days of the date of registration of the application subject, where appropriate, to subsequent confirmation of the eligibility of the butter as referred to in Article 40(1) second subparagraph. In the case where the eligibility is not confirmed, the contract concerned shall be considered as null and void.
2. Where the Member State of production has performed the checks on the nature and composition of the butter referred to in Article 40(1) of this Regulation, the certificate shall contain the results of those checks and confirm that the product concerned is butter within the meaning of the first subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999. In that case, the packaging shall be sealed by means of a numbered label issued by the competent body of the Member State of production. The certificate shall contain the number of the label.
SECTION 2
Checks
Article 39
1. The Member State shall ensure that all the conditions for entitlement to payment of the aid are fulfilled.
2. The contractor or, at the request of the Member State or with its authorisation, the person responsible for operating the cold store shall make available to the competent body any documentation permitting verification of the following particulars of the butter placed in private storage:
(a) |
the approval number identifying the factory and the Member State of production; |
(b) |
the date of production; |
(c) |
the date of entry into storage; |
(d) |
the storage lot number; |
(e) |
presence in the store and the address of the cold store; |
(f) |
the date of removal from storage. |
3. The contractor or, where applicable, the person responsible for operating the cold store shall keep stock records available at the store for each contract, containing:
(a) |
the storage lot number of the butter placed in private storage; |
(b) |
the dates of entry into and removal from storage; |
(c) |
the quantity of butter, indicated per storage lot; |
(d) |
the location of the butter in the cold store. |
4. Butter stored must be easily accessible and easily identifiable per lot and by contract.
Article 40
1. The competent body shall conduct checks on the date or after the date of entry of butter into the cold store and within 28 days of the date of registration of the application for conclusion of a contract referred to in Article 37(1).
To ensure that the butter stored is eligible for aid, a representative sample of at least 5 % of the quantities placed in storage shall be checked to ensure that, as regards inter alia, the weight, identification, nature and composition of the butter, all storage lots conform to the particulars in the application for conclusion of a contract.
2. The competent body shall:
(a) |
seal the butter by contract, storage lot or smaller quantity at the time of the check provided for in paragraph 1; or |
(b) |
make an unannounced check, by sampling, to ensure that the butter is present in the cold store. The sample concerned shall be representative and shall correspond to at least 10 % of the total quantity under the contract for a private storage aid measure. |
3. At the end of the contractual storage period, the competent body shall, by sampling, verify weight and identification of butter. However, where the butter is still in storage after expiry of the maximum contractual storage period, that check may be made when the butter is removed from storage.
For the purposes of the check referred to in the first subparagraph, the contractor shall inform the competent body, indicating the storage lots involved, at least five working days before:
(a) |
the end of the maximum contractual storage period; or |
(b) |
the start of the removal operations where butter is removed before expiry of the maximum contractual storage period. |
The Member State may accept a shorter time limit than five working days.
4. A report shall be drawn up on the checks carried out pursuant to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, specifying:
(a) |
the date of the checks; |
(b) |
duration of the checks; |
(c) |
the operations carried out. |
The report shall be signed by the inspector responsible and countersigned by the contractor or, as the case may be, the person responsible for operating the cold store, and shall be included in the payment dossier.
5. In the event of irregularities affecting at least 5 % of the quantities of butter checked, the check shall be extended to a larger sample to be determined by the competent body.
The Member States shall notify such cases to the Commission within four weeks.
SECTION 3
Storage aid
Article 41
1. Aid for private storage as provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 may be granted only where the contractual storage period is between 90 and 210 days.
Where the contractor fails to comply with the time limit referred to in Article 40(3), the aid shall be reduced by 15 % and shall be paid only in respect of the period for which the contractor supplies to the competent body satisfactory proof that the butter has remained in contractual storage.
2. Without prejudice to Article 43 of this Regulation, the Commission shall determine each year in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999, the amount of the aid referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6(3) of that Regulation for private storage contracts commencing during the year in question.
3. The aid shall be paid on application by the contractor, at the end of the contractual storage period, within 120 days of receipt of the application, provided that the checks referred to in Article 40(3) have been carried out and that the conditions for entitlement to the aid have been met.
However, if an administrative enquiry into entitlement to the aid is under way, payment shall not be made until entitlement has been recognised.
4. After 60 days of contractual storage a single advance payment of the aid may be made at the contractor's request, provided he lodges a security equal to the advance payment plus 10 %. The advance payment shall be calculated on the basis of a storage period of 90 days. The security shall be released as soon as the balance of the aid referred to in paragraph 3 has been paid.
Article 42
If checks during storage or on removal reveal defective butter, no aid may be paid for those quantities. The remainder of the storage lot which is still eligible for aid shall not be less than one tonne. The same rule shall apply where part of a lot is removed for that reason before 16 August of the year of storage or before expiry of the minimum storage period.
Article 43
If the market situation so requires, the Commission may during the year alter the amount of the aid, the periods of entry into and removal from storage and the maximum length of storage in respect of contracts yet to be concluded.
CHAPTER IV
REPEAL, TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 44
Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 is hereby repealed. However, it shall continue to apply to private storage contracts concluded before 1 January 2008.
References to Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 shall be construed as references to this Regulation and be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex III.
Article 45
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 February 2008.
For the Commission
Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 48. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1152/2007 (OJ L 258, 4.10.2007, p. 3).
(2) OJ L 333, 24.12.1999, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1171/2007 (OJ L 261, 6.10.2007, p. 11).
(3) OJ L 258, 4.10.2007, p. 3.
(4) OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 1.
ANNEX I
Compositional requirements, quality characteristics and analytical methods
Butter is a solid emulsion, mainly of the water-in-oil type, with the following compositional and quality characteristics:
Parameters |
Content and quality characteristics |
||
Fat |
Minimum 82 % |
||
Water |
Maximum 16 % |
||
Non-fat solids |
Maximum 2 % |
||
Free fatty acids |
Maximum 1,2 mmole/100 g fat |
||
Peroxide value |
Maximum 0,3 meq oxygen/1 000 g fat |
||
Coliformes |
Not detectable in 1 g |
||
Non-milk fat |
Not detectable by triglyceride analysis |
||
Tracers (1) |
|||
|
Not detectable, β-sitosterol ≤ 40 mg/kg |
||
|
Not detectable |
||
|
≤ 6 mg/kg |
||
|
Not detectable |
||
Not detectable |
|||
Sensory characteristics |
At least four out of five points for appearance, flavour and consistency |
||
Water dispersion |
At least four points |
||
The reference methods to be applied shall be those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 213/2001 (OJ L 37, 7.2.2001, p. 1). |
(1) Tracers approved under Regulation (EC) No 1898/2005 (OJ L 308, 25.11.2005, p. 1). Checks on tracers shall not be applied during the suspension of invitations to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1039/2007 (OJ L 238, 11.9.2007, p. 28).
(2) Methods approved by competent body.
ANNEX II
Sampling for chemical and microbiological analysis and sensory evaluation
1. Chemical and microbiological analysis
Quantity of butter (kg) |
Minimum number of samples (> 100 g) |
≤ 1 000 |
2 |
> 1 000 ≤ 5 000 |
3 |
> 5 000 ≤ 10 000 |
4 |
> 10 000 ≤ 15 000 |
5 |
> 15 000 ≤ 20 000 |
6 |
> 20 000 ≤ 25 000 |
7 |
> 25 000 |
7 + 1 per 25 000 kg or part thereof |
Sampling for microbiological analysis must be carried out aseptically.
Up to five samples of 100 g may be combined into one sample for analysis after thorough mixing.
The samples must be taken randomly from different parts of the offered quantity before or at the time of entry into the cold store designated by the competent body.
Preparation of composite butter sample (chemical analysis):
(a) |
using a clean, dry butter trier or similar suitable instrument, extract a core of butter of at least 30 g and place in a sample container. The composite sample must then be sealed and forwarded to the laboratory for analysis; |
(b) |
at the laboratory the composite sample is to be warmed in the original unopened container to 30 °C and shaken frequently until a homogeneous fluid emulsion free of unsoftened pieces is obtained. The container should be one half to two thirds full. |
Two samples per year per producer offering butter for intervention must be analysed for non-milk fat and one sample for tracers.
2. Sensory evaluation
Quantity of butter (kg) |
Minimum number of samples |
1 000 ≤ 5 000 |
2 |
> 5 000 ≤ 25 000 |
3 |
> 25 000 |
3 + 1 per 25 000 kg or part thereof |
The samples are to be taken randomly from different parts of the offered quantity between the 30th and the 45th day following take-over of the butter and graded.
Each sample must be assessed individually in accordance with Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 213/2001. No resampling or re-evaluation is allowed.
3. Guidelines to be followed where samples show defects
(a) |
chemical and microbiological analysis:
|
(b) |
sensory evaluation:
where a sample fails the sensory evaluation, the quantity of butter between two neighbouring samples on either side of the sample failing is to be rejected from the quantity offered; |
(c) |
where samples show a sensory defect and either a chemical or a microbiological defect, the whole quantity is to be rejected. |
ANNEX III
Correlation table
Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 |
This Regulation |
Article 1(1) and (2) |
Article 1(1) and (2) |
Article 2 |
— |
Article 3 |
Article 2 |
Article 4 |
Article 3 |
Article 5(1) to (4) |
Article 4(1) to (4) |
Article 5(5) |
— |
Article 6 |
Article 5 |
Article 7 |
— |
Article 8 |
— |
Article 9 |
Article 6 |
Article 10 |
Article 7 |
Article 11 |
Article 8 |
Article 12 |
Article 9 |
Article 13 |
Article 10 |
Article 14 |
Article 11 |
Article 15(1) |
Article 12(1) |
Article 15(2) |
First and second subparagraph of Article 12(2) |
Article 15(a) |
Third subparagraph of Article 12(2) |
Article 16 |
Article 13 |
Article 17 |
Article 14 |
Article 17(a) |
Article 15 |
Article 17(b) |
Article 16 |
Article 17(c) |
Article 17 |
Article 17(d) |
Article 18 |
Article 18 |
Article 19 |
Article 19 |
Article 20 |
Article 20 |
Article 21 |
Article 21 |
Article 22 |
Article 22 |
Article 23 |
Article 23 |
Article 24 |
Article 24 |
Article 25 |
Article 24(a) |
Article 26 |
Article 24(b) |
Article 27 |
Article 24(c)(1) |
— |
Article 24(c)(2) |
Article 28(1) |
Article 24(c)(3) |
Article 28(2) |
Article 24(c)(4) |
Article 28(3) |
Article 24(c)(5) |
Article 28(4) |
Article 24(d) |
Article 29 |
Article 24(e)(1) and (2) |
Article 30(1) and (2) |
Article 24(f) |
Article 31 |
Article 24(g) |
— |
Article 25 |
Article 32 |
Article 26 |
Article 34 |
Article 27(1) |
Article 33 |
Article 27(2) |
— |
Article 28 |
Article 35 |
Article 29 |
Article 36 |
Article 30 |
Article 37 |
Article 31 |
Article 38 |
Article 32 |
Article 39 |
Article 33 |
Article 40 |
Article 34 |
Article 41 |
First subparagraph of Article 35(1) |
— |
Second subparagraph of Article 35(1) |
Article 42 |
Article 35(2) |
— |
Article 36 |
— |
Article 37 |
— |
Article 38 |
Article 43 |
Annex I |
Annex I |
Annex IV |
Annex II |
Annex V |
— |
II Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory
DECISIONS
Commission
6.2.2008 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 32/21 |
COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 December 2007
granting a derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
(notified under document number C(2007) 6643)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(2008/96/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (1), and in particular the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III thereto,
Whereas:
(1) |
If the amount of manure that a Member State intends to apply per hectare each year is different from the one specified in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, that amount has to be fixed so as not to prejudice the achievement of the objectives specified in Article 1 of that Directive and has to be justified on the basis of objective criteria, such as, in the present case, long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake. |
(2) |
Belgium submitted to the Commission a request for a derogation under third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC referred to the region of Wallonia. |
(3) |
The requested derogation concerns the intention of Belgium to allow the application in Wallonia of up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure in specific holdings with more than 48 % of acreage as grassland. The nitrogen application from livestock manure on grassland would not exceed 230 kg per hectare per year, while on arable crops of these farms it would not exceed 115 kg/ha nitrogen per hectare per year. |
(4) |
The designation of nitrates vulnerable zones in respect to Wallonia, in conformity with paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 3 of Directive 91/676/EEC, covers approximately 42 % of this region’s territory and 54 % of utilised agricultural land. |
(5) |
Approximately 500 farms, corresponding to 5,6 % of total number of farms in nitrate vulnerable zones, and 3 % of the Utilised Agricultural Land are estimated to be encompassed by the derogation. |
(6) |
The legislation implementing Directive 91/676/EEC in Wallonia ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 15 février 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement constituant le Code de l’Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l’azote en agriculture’ has been adopted and applies equally to the requested derogation. |
(7) |
Water quality data submitted show that in Wallonia in 2005 average nitrate concentration in surface water in nitrate vulnerable zones was 16,7 mg/L, with stable or decreasing trends in 84 % of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005. Median groundwater concentration in 2005 was 24,8 mg/L nitrates, with stable or decreasing trends in 74 % of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005. |
(8) |
Average nitrogen input per hectare from livestock manure decreased by 12 % since 1990 and in 2004 was 101 kg/ha of Utilised Agricultural Land, of which 94 % from cattle manure, 3 % from pig manure and 2 % from poultry manure. Average application of chemical fertilisers decreased for both nitrogen and phosphate since 1990, respectively by 19 % and by 49 % and in 2004 was on average of 109 kg/ha and 28 kg/ha respectively for nitrogen and phosphate. |
(9) |
The supporting documents presented in the notification show that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year of nitrogen from manure is justified on the basis of objective criteria such as long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake. |
(10) |
The Commission after examination of the request considers that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year nitrogen from manure will not prejudice the achievement of the objectives of Directive 91/676/EEC, subject to certain strict conditions being met. |
(11) |
This Decision should be applicable in connection with the second action programme in force for the region of Wallonia for the period 2007 to 2010. |
(12) |
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Nitrates Committee set up pursuant to Article 9 of Directive 91/676/EEC, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia by letter of 19 October 2006, for the purpose of allowing a higher amount of livestock manure than that provided for in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, is granted, subject to the conditions laid down in this Decision.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purpose of this decision, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) |
‘cattle farms’ means holdings with more than three livestock units, where at least two-thirds of livestock are cattle; |
(b) |
‘grassland’ means acreage of the cattle farm cultivated with permanent or temporary grassland (generally temporary lies less than four years). |
Article 3
Scope
This Decision applies on an individual basis and subject to the conditions set out in Articles 4, 5 and 6 to cattle farms.
Article 4
Annual authorisation and commitment
1. Farmers who want to benefit from a derogation shall submit an application to the competent authorities annually.
2. Together with the annual application referred to in paragraph 1 they shall undertake in writing to fulfil the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6.
3. The competent authorities shall ensure that all the applications for derogation are subject to administrative control. Where the control carried out by the national authorities of the applications referred to in paragraph 1 demonstrates that the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6 are not fulfilled, the applicant shall be informed thereof and the application shall be considered to be refused.
Article 5
Application of manure and other fertilisers
1. The amount of livestock manure applied each year on cattle farms, including by the animals themselves, shall not exceed the amount of manure containing 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 8.
2. The amount of livestock manure applied on grassland each year shall not exceed 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The amount of livestock manure applied on other farmland each year shall not exceed 115 kg of nitrogen per hectare.
3. A fertilisation plan shall be kept for each farm describing the crop rotation, the planned application of manure and nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers. It shall be available in the farm each calendar year by 31 March at the latest.
The fertilisation plan shall include the following:
(a) |
the number of livestock, a description of the housing and storage system, including the volume of manure storage available; |
(b) |
a calculation of manure nitrogen (less losses in housing and storage) and phosphorus produced in the farm; |
(c) |
the crop rotation and acreage for grassland and for each crop, including a sketch map indicating location of individual fields; |
(d) |
the foreseeable nitrogen and phosphorus crop requirements; |
(e) |
the amount and the type of manure delivered outside and to the farm; |
(f) |
nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure over each field; |
(g) |
application of nitrogen and phosphorus with chemical and other fertilisers over each field. |
Plans shall be revised no later than seven days following any changes in agricultural practices to ensure consistency between plans and actual agricultural practices.
4. Fertilisation accounts shall be prepared by each farm. They shall be submitted to the competent authority for each calendar year.
5. Each farm benefiting from an individual derogation shall accept that the application referred to in Article 4(1), the fertilisation plan and the fertilisation accounts can be subject to control.
6. Phosphorous analysis in soil shall be performed for each farm which benefits from an individual derogation at least once every four years for each homogeneous area of the farm, with regard to crop rotation and soil characteristics. At least one analysis every five hectares of farmland shall be required.
7. Nitrate concentration in soil shall be measured every year in each farm which benefits from an individual derogation. At least five samples per year shall be analysed for each farm.
8. Manure shall not be spread in the autumn before grass cultivation.
Article 6
Land management
1. 48 % or more of the acreage available for manure application on the cattle holding shall be cultivated with grass.
2. Farmers benefiting from an individual derogation shall carry out the following measures:
(a) |
Temporary grassland shall be ploughed in spring. |
(b) |
Grassland shall not include leguminous or other plants fixing atmospheric nitrogen. This will however not apply to leguminous in grassland with less than 50 % leguminous. |
Article 7
Other measures
1. This derogation shall be applied without prejudice to the measures needed to comply with other Community environmental legislation.
2. Each farmer benefiting from an individual derogation shall be provided with technical assistance through an advisory service, which shall ensure the evaluation of the results of soil analysis, fertilisation plans and fertilisation accounts. Results of evaluation shall be transmitted to the competent authorities in charge of compliance checking in respect to the conditions set out in Articles 5 and 6.
Article 8
Monitoring
1. Maps showing the percentage of farms, percentage of livestock and percentage of agricultural land covered by individual derogation in each agricultural zone shall be drawn by the competent authority and shall be updated every year. Those maps shall be submitted to the Commission annually and for the first time by the end of 2007.
2. A monitoring network for sampling of surface and shallow groundwater shall be established and maintained to assess the impact of the derogation on water quality.
3. Survey and nutrient analysis shall provide data on local land use, crop rotations and agricultural practices on farms benefiting from individual derogations. Those data can be used for model-based calculations of the magnitude of nitrate leaching and phosphorus losses from fields where up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure is applied.
4. Monitoring sites shall be established in order to provide data on nitrogen concentration in soil water and corresponding nitrogen losses through the root zone into groundwater, as well as on nitrogen losses by surface and subsurface runoff, both under derogation and non derogation conditions.
Article 9
Reporting
1. The competent authority shall submit the results of the monitoring every year to the Commission, with a concise report on water quality evolution, evaluation of nitrate residue in soil in autumn in farms benefiting from a derogation and evaluation practice. The report shall provide information on how the evaluation of the implementation of the derogation conditions is carried on through controls at farm level and include information on non compliant farms based on the results of administrative and field inspections. The first report shall be transmitted by June 2008 and subsequently every year by June.
2. The results thus obtained will be taken into consideration by the Commission with regard to an eventual new request for a derogation.
Article 10
Application
This Decision shall apply in the context of the second action programme 2007-2010 for the Region of Wallonia. ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 15 février 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement constituant le Code de l’Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l’azote en agriculture’. It shall expire on 31 December 2010.
Article 11
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.
Done at Brussels, 20 December 2007.
For the Commission
Stavros DIMAS
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the Eurpean Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).
6.2.2008 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 32/25 |
COMMISSION DECISION
of 30 January 2008
amending Decision 93/52/EEC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) and Decision 2003/467/EC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis and that certain administrative regions of Poland are officially free of enzootic bovine leucosis
(notified under document number C(2008) 324)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2008/97/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (1), and in particular Annex A(I)(4), Annex A(II)(7) and Annex D(I)(E) thereto,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals (2), and in particular Section II of Chapter 1 of Annex A thereto,
Whereas:
(1) |
Commission Decision 93/52/EEC of 21 December 1992 recording the compliance by certain Member States or regions with the requirements relating to brucellosis (B. melitensis) and according them the status of a Member State or region officially free of the disease (3) lists the Member States and regions thereof which are recognised as officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) in accordance with Directive 91/68/EEC. |
(2) |
Italy has submitted to the Commission documentation demonstrating compliance with the conditions provided for in Section II(1)(b) of Chapter 1 of Annex A to Directive 91/68/EEC as regards the provinces of Latina and Roma in the Region of Lazio and the Region of Veneto. Those provinces and that region should therefore be recognised as officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis). |
(3) |
Directive 64/432/EEC provides that Member States or parts or regions thereof may be declared officially free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis as regards bovine herds subject to compliance with certain conditions set out in that Directive. |
(4) |
The lists of regions of Member States declared free of bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis are set out in Commission Decision 2003/467/EC of 23 June 2003 establishing the official tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic-bovine-leucosis-free status of certain Member States and regions of Member States as regards bovine herds (4). |
(5) |
Italy has submitted to the Commission documentation demonstrating compliance with the appropriate conditions provided for in Directive 64/432/EEC as regards the province of Vercelli in the Region of Piemonte and the provinces of Pisa and Pistoia in the Region of Toscana in order that those provinces may be declared officially tuberculosis-free regions of Italy. |
(6) |
Italy has also submitted to the Commission documentation demonstrating compliance with the appropriate conditions provided for in Directive 64/432/EEC as regards the province of Brindisi in the Region of Puglia and the Region of Toscana in order that that province and that region may be declared officially brucellosis-free regions of Italy. |
(7) |
Following evaluation of the documentation submitted by Italy, the provinces and the region concerned should therefore be declared officially tuberculosis-free and brucellosis-free regions of Italy respectively as regards bovine animals. |
(8) |
Poland has submitted to the Commission documentation demonstrating compliance with the appropriate conditions provided for in Directive 64/432/EEC as regards that certain powiaty may be considered officially enzootic-bovine-leucosis-free regions of Poland. |
(9) |
Following evaluation of the documentation submitted by Poland, those powiaty in Poland should therefore be recognised as officially enzootic-bovine-leucosis-free regions of that Member State. |
(10) |
Decisions 93/52/EEC and 2003/467/EC should therefore be amended accordingly. |
(11) |
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annex II to Decision 93/52/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Decision.
Article 2
Annexes I, II and III to Decision 2003/467/EC are amended in accordance with Annex II to this Decision.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 30 January 2008.
For the Commission
Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64. Directive as last amended by Commission Decision 2007/729/EC (OJ L 294, 13.11.2007, p. 26).
(2) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/104/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352).
(3) OJ L 13, 21.1.1993, p. 14. Decision as last amended by Decision 2007/399/EC (OJ L 150, 12.6.2007, p. 11).
(4) OJ L 156, 25.6.2003, p. 74. Decision as last amended by Decision 2007/559/EC (OJ L 212, 14.8.2007, p. 20).
ANNEX I
In Annex II to Decision 93/52/EEC, the second paragraph as regards Italy is replaced by the following:
‘In Italy:
— |
Region Abruzzo: Province of Pescara. |
— |
Region Friuli Venezia Giulia. |
— |
Region Lazio: Provinces of Latina, Roma. |
— |
Region Liguria: Province of Savona. |
— |
Region Lombardia: Provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantova, Milano, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese. |
— |
Region Marche: Provinces of Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata, Pesaro, Urbino. |
— |
Region Molise: Province of Isernia. |
— |
Region Piemonte: Provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Torino, Verbania, Vercelli. |
— |
Region Sardinia: Provinces of Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano, Sassari. |
— |
Region Trentino-Alto Adige: Provinces of Bolzano, Trento. |
— |
Region Toscana: Provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena. |
— |
Region Umbria: Provinces of Perugia, Terni. |
— |
Region of Veneto.’ |
ANNEX II
Annexes I, II and III to Decision 2003/467/EC are amended as follows:
(1) |
in Annex I, Chapter 2 is replaced by the following: ‘CHAPTER 2 Officially tuberculosis-free regions of Member States In Italy:
|
(2) |
in Annex II, Chapter 2 is replaced by the following: ‘CHAPTER 2 Officially brucellosis-free regions of Member States In Italy:
|
(3) |
in Chapter 2 of Annex III, the second paragraph concerning Poland is replaced by the following: ‘In Poland:
|