(1)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 of 28 July 1993 laying down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies (2), provides in particular that cereals held by intervention agencies are to be sold by tendering procedure at prices preventing market disturbance.

(2)

Because of unfavourable weather conditions on the Iberian Peninsula, maize prices on the Community market are relatively high, causing supply difficulties at competitive prices for growers and the livestock feed industry alike.

(3)

France has intervention stocks of maize, which should be used up.

(4)

It is therefore appropriate to make the stocks of maize held by the French intervention agency available on the internal market.

(5)

To take account of the situation on the Community market, provision should be made for the Commission to manage this invitation to tender. In addition, provision must be made for an award coefficient for tenders offering the minimum selling price.

(6)

It is also important for the French intervention agency’s notification to the Commission to maintain the anonymity of the tenderers.

(7)

With a view to modernising management, the information required by the Commission should be sent by electronic mail.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

a)

tenders shall be drawn up on the basis of the actual quality of the lot to which they apply;

b)

the minimum selling price shall be set at a level which does not disturb the cereals market; it may not in any event be lower than the intervention price in force for the month in question, including any monthly increases.