9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/1

(1)

In accordance with Article 13(3) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, Eurostat has submitted a report (2) on the evolution of the prices of hotels, restaurants and catering services.

(2)

This report shows that the daily subsistence allowances and the hotel ceilings should be reviewed to take account of the evolution of the prices of hotels, restaurants and catering services.

(3)

Reviewing the scale of the daily subsistence allowance and the hotel ceilings involves an assessment of complex economic and/or social situations, in which the legislator enjoys a wide margin of discretion.

(4)

The last reform of the Staff Regulations of officials and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Union underlined the need for a particular effort by each and every public administration and each and every member of its staff to improve efficiency and to adjust to the changing economic and social context in Europe.

(5)

Following the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013, the reimbursement to officials and other servants of expenditure incurred on missions in this country should be subject to the rules set out in Article 13(2)(a) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations,

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/4

(1)

The milk sector is confronted with market disturbance due to a worldwide supply-demand imbalance, in which the prolongation until the end of 2017 of the Russian ban on the import of agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the Union plays a role.

(2)

Global demand for milk and milk products slightly increased in 2015 and in the first months of 2016, but at a much lower rate than production.

(3)

Global milk supply generally increased throughout 2015, with a combined production growth in the Union, the United States and New Zealand amounting to some 4,5 million t, while total exports from the Union and those two third countries in milk equivalent decreased by some 200 000 t.

(4)

In the first four months of 2016, milk production in the Union, the United States and New Zealand increased by some 3,6 million t, with less than 1 % of that volume being absorbed by additional exports.

(5)

Voluntary agreements and decisions on the planning of production in the milk and milk products sector have been authorised for recognised producer organisations, their associations and recognised interbranch organisations by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/559 (3) and for cooperatives and other forms of producer organisations in the milk and milk products sector by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/558 (4) for a period of six months starting on 13 April 2016. That period was extended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1615 (5).

(6)

Market intervention instruments in the form of public intervention and private storage for butter and skimmed milk powder have remained available without interruption since September 2014.

(7)

Those instruments have mitigated the crisis' impact and set a floor to the continuous deterioration of dairy product prices but global imbalance persists.

(8)

In order to help the milk and milk products sector find a new balance under the prevailing severe market situation and given that, on the basis of available market analysis, no significant decrease in production volumes is expected until the end of 2017, it is appropriate that aid is made available to milk producers in the Union who voluntarily engage in milk production reduction.

(9)

As milk production in the Union is predominantly characterised by cow milk deliveries, while direct sales and milk from other species only represent a marginal share of the Union milk production, it is appropriate that aid is made available for a reduction in cow milk deliveries only.

(10)

In order to achieve an effective reduction in cow milk deliveries, the eligibility of applicants should be limited to those who were delivering cow milk to first purchasers in July 2016, the most recent time period for which applicants can provide evidence of such deliveries.

(11)

With the same aim of effectiveness, Union aid should not cover more than a 50 % reduction of cow milk deliveries compared to the relevant reference period.

(12)

The aid provided for in this Regulation should be granted as a measure supporting agricultural markets in accordance with Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

(13)

It should be allowed to cumulate that aid with other support financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

(14)

As the financial grant is fixed in euro, it is necessary, in order to ensure a uniform and simultaneous application, to fix a date for the conversion of the amount allocated to Member States not having adopted the euro into their national currencies. It is therefore appropriate to determine the operative event for the exchange rate in accordance with Article 106 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. In view of the principle referred to in paragraph (2)(b) of that Article and the criteria laid down in paragraph (5)(c) of that Article, the operative event should be the date of the entry into force of this Regulation.

(15)

In order for the scheme to run effectively without exceeding the maximum total volume of cow milk delivery reduction covered by the aid, notifications should be provided for with regard to applications for aid and applications for payment.

(16)

In order to maximise use of the scheme, a number of application periods should be provided for until the total volume of cow milk delivery reduction corresponding to the available budget is exhausted by aid applications. To ensure that applications are efficiently dealt with, they should preferably be submitted by electronic means.

(17)

In order for applications to involve a meaningful cow milk delivery reduction and to avoid a disproportionate administrative burden, a minimum quantity of cow milk delivery reduction should be fixed per application.

(18)

In order to ensure uniform treatment of applications throughout the Union, a standard conversion factor should be set for converting litres into kg.

(19)

Member States should not only check the admissibility of aid applications but also their plausibility. For instance, an aid application for which the total volume of cow milk to be delivered to first purchasers in the reduction period is bigger than the total volume delivered in the reference period should not be considered plausible.

(20)

In order to ensure that beneficiaries receive the aid as soon as possible and production reduction can start without delay, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication,

(a)

21 September 2016 at 12.00 (Brussels time) for the first reduction period covering October, November and December 2016;

(b)

12 October 2016 at 12.00 (Brussels time) for the second reduction period covering November and December 2016 and January 2017;

(c)

9 November 2016 at 12.00 (Brussels time) for the third reduction period covering December 2016 and January and February 2017;

(d)

7 December 2016 at 12.00 (Brussels time) for the fourth reduction period covering January, February and March 2017.

(a)

the following information on a form made available by the Member State:

(b)

documents indicating the total quantity of cow milk referred to in point (a)(ii);

(c)

documents indicating that the application relates to a milk producer who delivered cow milk to first purchasers in July 2016.

(a)

the following information on a form made available by the Member State:

(b)

documents indicating the total quantity referred to in point (a)(ii).

(a)

the number of eligible applicants and the actual total volume of cow milk delivery reduction covered by the aid applications and applications for payment received by them;

(b)

the aggregated Union aid amount expected to be paid.

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/10

(1)

The milk sector is confronted with market disturbance due to a worldwide supply-demand imbalance, in which the prolongation until the end of 2017 of the Russian ban on the import of agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the Union plays a role.

(2)

Global demand for milk and milk products slightly increased in 2015 and in the first months of 2016, but at a much lower rate than production.

(3)

Global milk supply generally increased throughout 2015, with a combined production growth in the Union, the United States and New Zealand amounting to some 4,5 million t, while total exports from the Union and those two third countries in milk equivalent decreased by some 200 000 t.

(4)

In the first four months of 2016, milk production in the Union, the United States and New Zealand increased by some 3,6 million t, with less than 1 % of that volume being absorbed by additional exports.

(5)

As a consequence, prices of raw milk in the Union have further decreased and downward pressure is likely to continue, reaching unsustainable levels for milk producers. In May 2016, average farm gate milk prices in the Union were 22 % below the average price in May of the years 2011 to 2015.

(6)

In parallel, milk price disparities have widened between Member States. Small farmers are particularly hit, putting at risk the social fabric of rural areas.

(7)

Other livestock sectors, in particular the pigmeat, beef and veal, and sheepmeat and goatmeat sectors, experience market difficulties as well. With regard to pigmeat those difficulties are mainly related to the Russian import ban notably linked to the outbreak of African swine fever in certain Member States, while for the beef and veal sector they are a side-effect of the milk market disturbance.

(8)

Market intervention instruments in the form of public intervention and private storage for butter and skimmed milk powder have remained available without interruption since September 2014. Those instruments have mitigated the crisis' impact and have set a floor to the continuous decrease of milk product prices, but global imabalance persists.

(9)

As the normal measures available under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 appear to be insufficient and in order to cater for a situation where prices would further deteriorate and deepen market disturbances, it is essential that aid is made available to milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors in the Union affected by market disturbances that severely weakened profitability and liquidity. Member States should choose one or more of the sectors concerned, or part of them, to support producers and farmers who suffer most from market disturbances.

(10)

In order to improve farmers' resilience, that aid should be confined to more sustainable farming methods. Particular attention should be given to small farms, which form the backbone of rural economy.

(11)

To alleviate the current crisis, it is appropriate to provide Member States with a one-time financial grant to support milk producers and/or farmers in other livestock sectors engaging in activities fostering economic sustainability and market stabilisation.

(12)

The financial grant available to each Member State should take into account the main features of their sectors including production, market prices and the weight of small farmers.

(13)

Member States should design measures based on one or more of the following activities fostering economic sutainability and market stabilisation: freezing or reducing production, small scale farming, extensive production, environmental and climate friendly production, cooperation between farmers, improvement of quality and added value, and training in sound management methods.

(14)

Taking account of the particular situation of milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors, which varies across the Union, Member States should choose the most appropriate measures, in particular in terms of market stabilisation and economic sustainability, and should provide a description of the concrete measures to be taken.

(15)

As the amount allocated to each Member State will compensate only a limited portion of the actual loss suffered by milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors, Member States should be allowed to grant additional support to those farmers, under the same conditions of objectiveness, non-discrimination and non-distortion of competition.

(16)

The aid provided for in this Regulation should be granted as a measure supporting agricultural markets in accordance with Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

(17)

In order to give them the flexibility to distribute the aid as circumstances require to cope with the difficulties, Member States should be allowed to cumulate it with other support financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

(18)

As the financial grant is fixed in euro, it is necessary, in order to ensure a uniform and simultaneous application, to fix a date for the conversion of the amount allocated to Member States not having adopted the euro into their national currencies. It is therefore appropriate to determine the operative event for the exchange rate in accordance with Article 106 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. In view of the principle referred to in paragraph (2)(b) of that Article and the criteria laid down in paragraph (5)(c) of that Article, the operative event should be the date of the entry into force of this Regulation.

(19)

For budgetary reasons, the Union should finance the expenditure incurred by Member States in relation to milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors only where such expenditure is made by a certain deadline.

(20)

In order to ensure transparency and the monitoring and proper administration of the amount available to them, Member States should inform the Commission of the concrete measures to be taken, the objective criteria used, the rationale for supporting livestock sectors other than milk, the measures taken to avoid distorsion of the market, the intended impact of the measures and the methods to check that it is reached.

(21)

In order to ensure that milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors receive the aid as soon as possible, Member States should be enabled to implement this Regulation without delay. Therefore, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication,

(a)

production reduction beyond that covered by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1612 (3) or not increasing production;

(b)

small-scale farming;

(c)

the application of extensive production methods;

(d)

the application of environmental and climate friendly production methods;

(e)

the implementation of cooperation projects;

(f)

the implementation of quality schemes or projects aiming at promoting quality and value added;

(g)

training in financial instruments and risk management tools.

(a)

without delay and no later than 30 November 2016:

(b)

no later than 15 October 2017, the total amounts paid per measure, the number and type of beneficiaries and the assessment of the effectiveness of the measure.

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/15

(1)

The milk and milk products sector is confronted with market disturbance due to a strong supply-demand imbalance.

(2)

The production of skimmed milk powder in the Union increased by 18 % in the period from January to April 2016 as a result of increased milk production, while exports declined by 8 % in the same period. Exports of skimmed milk powder traditionally represent some 40 to 50 % of the total skimmed milk powder production in the Union.

(3)

As a consequence, prices of skimmed milk powder in the Union are under downward pressure.

(4)

Article 12(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that public intervention for skimmed milk powder is to be available from 1 March to 30 September. In accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1549 (2), in 2016 public intervention for skimmed milk powder was made available from 1 January to 30 September.

(5)

In order to provide for the possibility to swiftly use all possible market measures and cater for a situation where the prices of skimmed milk powder would further deteriorate and market disturbances would deepen, it is essential that public intervention remains available for skimmed milk powder without interruption until the start of the next intervention period on 1 March 2017.

(6)

It is therefore appropriate to extend the intervention buying-in period for skimmed milk powder in 2016 until 31 December 2016, and to fix the start of the intervention buying-in period in 2017 at 1 January.

(7)

The extension of the intervention buying-in period from 30 September 2016 to 31 December 2016 coincides with the date of application of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 (3) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1240 (4), which replace Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 (5) and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1272/2009 (6) as from 1 October 2016. In the interest of continuity and legal certainty, it is appropriate to provide for a derogation to the effect that Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 continues to apply to applications for private storage aid for skimmed milk powder submitted under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 948/2014 (7) and that Regulation (EU) No 1272/2009 continues to apply to offers or tenders submitted under this Regulation.

(8)

In order to ensure that the temporary measures provided for in this Regulation have an immediate impact on the market and contribute to stabilise prices, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication,

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/17

(1)

In addition to a series of exceptional measures to address the difficult market situation in the milk and milk products sector on the basis of Article 219 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the Commission has authorised voluntary agreements and decisions on the planning of production in the milk and milk products sector for recognised producer organisations, their associations and recognised interbranch organisations by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/559 (2) and for cooperatives and other forms of producer organisations in the milk and milk products sector by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/558 (3) for a period of six months starting on 13 April 2016.

(2)

No joint agreement or decision has been reported so far, as the sector needs time to organise itself to use this new instrument, while the milk sector is still confronted with severe market imbalance due to worldwide supply-demand imbalance, in which the prolongation until the end of 2017 of the Russian ban on the import of agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the Union plays a role.

(3)

Farm gate milk prices declined in 2015 by 8 % and by a further 15 % in the first five months of 2016. In May 2016, the average milk price in the Union was 22 % lower than the average of the last five years. In parallel, the gap between Member States further widened, with some Member States reporting prices 30 % lower than the Union average. On the basis of available market analysis, no significant decrease in production volumes is expected until the end of 2017.

(4)

In order to help the milk and milk products sector find a new balance under the prevailing severe market imbalance and accompany the necessary adjustments following the expiry of the milk quota, it is appropriate to authorise the voluntary agreements and decisions referred to in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/559 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/558 for a further period of six months. As the conditions as well as the substantive and geographical scope referred to in Article 222(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and the relevant notification obligations have already been specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/559, it is appropriate to amend that Implementing Regulation.

(5)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/559 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

Given the severe market imbalance and the need to ensure continuity and legal certainty, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

(1)

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

Without prejudice to Article 152(3)(b)(i) and Article 209(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, recognised producer organisations, their associations and recognised interbranch organisations in the milk and milk products sector are hereby authorised:

(2)

Article 4 is amended as follows:

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/19

(1)

Pursuant to Article 52 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, Member States may grant, under certain conditions, coupled support to farmers in specific agricultural sectors or types of farming, to the extent necessary to create an incentive to maintain current levels of production in the sectors or regions concerned.

(2)

Given the relatively high production levels and consequently depressed prices on the Union market for milk and milk products and, in particular, the resulting temporary difficulties that the dairy sector currently is confronted with, Member States should be able to decide to revise their voluntary coupled support measures targeting the milk and milk products sector for claim year 2017 in order to allow that voluntary coupled support can continue to be paid on the basis of the number of animals for which such support was accepted in 2016. Although, in the short term, such revision might seem to jeopardise one of the objectives of voluntary coupled support, i.e. maintaining current levels of production, such measures may help attaining the objectives of voluntary coupled support in the long term.

(3)

In view of the seriousness of the financial difficulties currently being encountered by beneficiaries, it is appropriate to use Article 69(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 to provide for a derogation from Chapter 1 of Title IV of that Regulation.

(4)

In order to enable the Commission to monitor the correct application of rules and the impact of such review, Member States should notify the Commission of their decision within 14 days after the date on which the decision was taken.

(5)

In order to ensure that the milk and milk products sector can benefit as soon as possible from the derogation provided for in this Regulation, it should enter into force on the day following that of its publication and Member States should take their decision within 30 days after the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Direct Payments,

(a)

providing that for claim year 2017 the payment to the farmer who is entitled to receive payments in accordance with Article 9 and Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 is made on the basis of the number of animals for which that farmer was entitled to support under those measures for claim year 2016; and

(b)

not applying all the other applicable eligibility conditions for the measures subject to the revision.

(a)

the total number of animals for which the payment was accepted in respect of claim year 2016; or

(b)

the number of animals referred to in point (a) for the farmers eligible in 2017.

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/22

(1)

Pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 75(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, from 16 October to 30 November Member States may pay advances of up to 50 % for direct payments under Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and up to 75 % for area-related and animal-related support measures under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council (3).

(2)

Article 75(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 provides that payments referred to in paragraph 1 of that Article, including advances for direct payments, shall not be made before the administrative and on-the-spot checks to be carried out pursuant to Article 74 of that Regulation have been finalised. However, as regards area-related and animal-related support measures under rural development, Article 75(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 allows advances to be paid after the administrative checks pursuant to Article 59(1) of that Regulation have been finalised.

(3)

The ongoing severity of the economic situation in certain agricultural sectors, and particularly in the dairy market, still generates serious financial difficulties and cash-flow problems for beneficiaries.

(4)

In addition, the administrative difficulties encountered in the first year of implementation of the new legal framework for the direct payments schemes and rural development measures continue to exist in some Member States and have delayed the execution of payments to the beneficiaries for claim year 2015 in some Member States.

(5)

In a view of the exceptional nature of those combined circumstances and the resulting financial difficulties for beneficiaries, it is necessary to alleviate those difficulties by derogating from the third subparagraph of Article 75(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in order to allow Member States to pay a higher level of advances to beneficiaries for claim year 2016.

(6)

Moreover, due to the new requirements linked to the preparation of the application process for claim year 2016, the administration of the single application, aid applications and payment claims and applications for allocation of payment entitlements or the increase of the value of payment entitlements under the basic payment scheme has been delayed. As a consequence, the necessary checks are likely to be completed later than usual.

(7)

It is therefore necessary to derogate from the first subparagraph of Article 75(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in order to allow advances for direct payments to be made after the administrative checks as specified in Articles 28 and 29 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 (4) are completed. It is however imperative that such a derogation will not impede the sound financial management and the requirement of a sufficient level of assurance. Accordingly, Member States making use of that derogation are responsible for taking all necessary measures to ensure that overpayments are avoided and that any undue amounts are quickly and actually recovered. Moreover, the use of that derogation should be covered by the management declaration referred to in Article 7(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 for financial year 2017.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Agricultural Funds, the Committee for Direct Payments and the Rural Development Committee,

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/24

(1)

Requests have been submitted pursuant to Article 31(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 for inclusion in Annex I to that Regulation of a number of fertilisers.

(2)

[S,S]-Ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (hereinafter ‘[S,S]-EDDS’) is an organic chelating agent for micro-nutrients. Iron chelated with [S,S]-EDDS is used to correct iron shortages and to remedy ferric chlorosis for ornamental crops and decorative lawn turfs. It degrades rapidly thus posing minimal leaching concerns from top soils to groundwater and is completely mineralised, exhibiting no mammalian and aquatic toxicity.

(3)

Heptagluconic acid (hereinafter ‘HGA’) is an organic complexing agent for micro-nutrient fertilisers. HGA is effective, biodegradable, showing good stability over a wide range of pH values and high solubility in water. HGA has been authorised for many years in Spain without any reported damage to the environment, nor to human health.

(4)

Manufacturers of [S,S]-EDDS and HGA have submitted requests to the Commission, via the authorities of Germany and Spain, to include those substances in the list of authorised organic chelating and complexing agents in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 in order to make [S,S]-EDDS and HGA available to farmers throughout the Union. [S,S]-EDDS and HGA, as specified in Annex I to this Regulation, fulfil the requirements stipulated in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. They should therefore be added to the list of authorised organic chelating and complexing agents in Annex I to that Regulation.

(5)

Since analytical methods for determination of [S,S]-EDDS and HGA are available, those methods should be specified in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003, for the purpose of facilitating the controls that Member States exercise pursuant to Article 29 of that Regulation. The subtitle describing Methods 11 should reflect the fact that HGA is a complexing agent.

(6)

The reaction mixture between N-butylphosphorothioic triamide and N-propylphosphorothioic triamide was introduced in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1257/2014 (2). Recent research has shown that no significant difference in the reduction of ammonia emissions from the use of either the reaction mixture or the mere mixture of the two substances can be expected. Therefore the entry should be amended in order to allow the producers of such mixture to opt for one of these production routes.

(7)

Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

In order to ensure that the analytical method for [S,S]-EDDS, which is currently under validation, is published by the European Committee for Standardisation, a reasonable period of time should be provided for before the inclusion of [S,S]-EDDS in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 and the new analytical method for this fertiliser type in its Annex IV applies.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003,

(1)

Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation;

(2)

Annex IV is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/28

(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 948/2014 (4) opened private storage for skimmed milk powder in view of the particular difficult market situation, notably resulting from the ban introduced by Russia on imports of dairy products from the Union.

(2)

That private storage scheme has been extended by Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1337/2014 (5), (EU) 2015/303 (6), (EU) 2015/1548 (7) and (EU) 2016/224 (8). As a result, applications for aid can be lodged until 30 September 2016.

(3)

On 29 June 2016, Russia prolonged the ban on the import of agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the Union until the end of 2017.

(4)

The production of skimmed milk powder in the Union increased by 18 % in the period from January to April 2016 as a result of increased milk production, while exports declined by 8 % in the same period. Exports of skimmed milk powder traditionally represent some 40 to 50 % of the total skimmed milk powder production in the Union.

(5)

As a consequence, prices of skimmed milk powder in the Union continue to be under downward pressure.

(6)

In view of the current market situation it is appropriate to secure the undisrupted availability of the private storage aid scheme for skimmed milk powder and to extend it until the start of the 2017 intervention period on 1 March 2017.

(7)

In order to avoid any interruption of the possibility for lodging applications under the scheme, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/30

(1)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 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 Annex XVI, Part A thereto.

(2)

The standard import value is calculated each working day, in accordance with Article 136(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011, taking into account variable daily data. Therefore this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

9.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 242/32

(1)

Article 30(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 establishes the possibility for the Forum of the Accreditation and Licensing Bodies to develop guidance on issues in the field of the competence of accreditation and licensing bodies in order to harmonise the procedures applied by those bodies for accreditation or licensing and supervision of environmental verifiers.

(2)

Environmental verifiers operating in different Member States are required to notify their activities to the relevant accreditation and licensing bodies in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.

(3)

The practical execution of that notification procedure has revealed that the response of individual accreditation and licensing bodies to environmental verifiers who fail to respect their notification obligations differs. Consequently, additional guidance is needed to ensure consistent application of the notification procedures, in the context of environmental verifiers accredited or licensed in one Member State performing verification and validation activities in another Member State.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established pursuant to Article 49 of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009,