Common organisation of sheepmeat and goatmeat markets

The common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat is designed to stabilise prices and guarantee a fair level of income for farmers, while establishing a system of prices and arrangements for trade with third countries. These specific provisions remain in force until 30 June 2008.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 2529/2001 of 19 December 2001 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat [see amending Acts].

SUMMARY

As from 1 July 2008, products falling under the scope of this Regulation will be covered by the common organisation of agricultural markets.

Scope

The products affected are lambs, live sheep and goats, fresh, chilled and frozen meat from sheep or goats, edible offal, fats and other prepared or preserved meat and offal from sheep or goats.

Private storage aid

When there is a particularly difficult market situation in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or any other Member State taken separately, the European Commission may decide to grant private storage aid within the framework of a tendering procedure. In urgent cases, aid amounts may be fixed in advance without tendering.

Trade with third countries

Imports and exports may be subject to presentation of an import or export licence issued by Member States to any applicant.

The rates of duty in the Common Customs Tariff apply to products in the sheepmeat and goatmeat sectors.

Additional import duties may be imposed if there is a risk that imports might destabilise the Community market.

Tariff quotas are administered by applying one of the following methods: first come, first served; simultaneous examination; or traditional/new arrival. Other non-discriminatory methods may be applied.

The use of inward processing arrangements may be prohibited to the extent necessary for the proper working of the common organisation of the market or if there is a risk of the Community market being disturbed.

When trading with third countries, it is forbidden to impose charges having equivalent effect to customs duties or to apply any quantitative import restrictions or measures having the same effect.

Protective measures may be taken if the Community market is threatened with disturbance by reason of imports or exports.

Other provisions

Member States monitor prices on the market. When there is a substantial rise or fall in prices and this threatens to disturb the market, the necessary measures may be taken.

Exceptional measures may be taken to support a market affected by restrictions on free movement resulting from animal diseases.

Save as otherwise provided in this Regulation, the Treaty rules on State aid apply to the sheepmeat and goatmeat sector.

The Member States and the Commission notify one another of the information needed in order to implement the Regulation.

In implementing the Regulation, the Commission is assisted by a Management Committee for Sheepmeat and Goatmeat, comprising representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.

At the end of 2005, the Commission reported to the European Parliament and the Council on the environmental consequences of sheep and goat farming.

If necessary, transitional measures may be taken to ensure the smooth changeover to the new common organisation of the market.

Background

This common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat brought together all the various pieces of legislation governing that market up until 2001. It regulated trade in these products both on the internal market and with third countries. It did so by providing aid to Community producers in the form of direct payments.

This scheme was replaced by the 2003 agricultural reform which introduced the single farm payment, while still providing ewe and goat premiums.

In 2007, the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat was subsumed under the single common organisation of the market, which replaced the 21 individual systems in place for various sectors and simplified the legislative framework for the common agriculture policy.

RELATED ACTS

Definitions

Regulation (EEC) No 461/93 [Official Journal L 49, 27.2.1993].

Community scale for the classification of sheep carcasses.

See consolidated version (pdf).

Premium scheme

Regulation (EC) No 2550/2001 [Official Journal L 341, 22.12.2001]. Detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2529/2001 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat as regards premium schemes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001.

Intervention/private storage

Regulation (EC) No 6/2008 [Official Journal L 3, 5.1.2008]. Detailed rules for the granting of private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat.

Regulation (EEC) No 3447/90 [Official Journal L 333, 30.11.1990].

Special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat.

See consolidated version (pdf).

Imports

Regulation (EC) No 874/96 [Official Journal L 118, 15.5.1996].

Imports of pure-bred breeding animals of the ovine and caprine species from third countries.

Monitoring of the markets

Regulation (EC) No 315/2002 [Official Journal L 50, 21.2.2002].

Survey of prices of fresh or chilled lamb on representative markets in the Community.

Transitional measures

Regulation (EC) No 264/2002 [Official Journal L 43, 14.2.2002].

Transitional measures for the application of premium schemes in the sheepmeat and goatmeat sectors.

See also

For more details, consult the legislation on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat and the Commission website for this common organisation of the market.

Last updated: 11.03.2008