COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organization of the market in cereals
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the prices and guarantees represented by the machinery introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in cereals (4) encourage the growth of cereals production at a rate which is no longer in line with the absorption capacity of the market; whereas, in order to avoid a succession of increasingly serious crises, the current policy should be radically reformed; whereas that implies that the support provided by the market organization should be reorientated in such a way that it no longer depends solely on guaranteed prices;
Whereas the new orientation of the common agricultural policy must lead to better market equilibrium and to a better competitive position for Community agriculture; whereas that objective can be achieved by lowering the target price to a level representing an anticipated rate on a stabilized world market; whereas, so as not to encourage producers to opt for one particular crop, the target price should be the same for the major cereales;
Whereas the loss of income resulting from the drop in prices is offset by direct aid per hectare introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 (5);
Whereas the structure of guaranteed prices must permit disposal of surpluses within the Community; whereas an intervention price should therefore be fixed at a lower level and a threshold price at a higher level than the target price;
Whereas the new structure of guaranteed prices leads to the elimination of the current provisions on derived prices;
Whereas the aid scheme provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 replaces those for durum wheat and certain minor cereales; whereas those aids should therefore be discontinued;
Whereas the intervention agencies must be able, in special circumstances, to take intervention measures suited to those circumstances; whereas, however, so that the required uniformity of intervention systems may be maintained, those special circumstances should be assessed and the appropriate measures determined at Community level;
Whereas the intervention prices and threshold prices should, in the course of the marketing year, be subject to a certain number of monthly increases in order to take account, to some extent, of storage costs and interest charges for storing cereals in the Community and of the need to ensure that the disposal stocks conforms to market requirements;
Whereas potatoes intended for the production of starch are in direct competition with cereals intended for the production of starch; whereas, in view of the reform measures envisaged for cereals and to ensure equal treatment between the lines of production in question, similar measures should be adopted with regard to potatoes intended for the production of starch;
Whereas the creatin of a single Community market for cereals involves, apart from a system of guaranteed prices, the introduction of a single trading system at the external frontiers of the Community; whereas a trading system including levies and export refunds, combined with intervention measures, also serves to stabilize the Community market, in particular by preventing price fluctuations on the world market from affecting prices ruling within the Community; whereas, therefore, provision should be made for charging a levy on imports from third countries and for the payment of a refund on exports to those countries, both being designed to cover the difference between prices ruling outside and within the Community; whereas, moreover, in respect of products processed from the cereals to which this Regulation applies, account should be taken of the need to ensure a measure of protection for the Community processing industry;
Whereas, in addition to the system described above, and to the extent necessary for its proper working, provision should be made for regulation or, when the situation on the market so requires, prohibiting totally or partially the use of 'inward processing arrangements`;
Whereas the competent authorities must be in a position to monitor trade movements in order to assess market trends and to apply the measures laid down in this Regulation as necessary; whereas, to that end, provision should be made for the issue of import and export licences accompanied by the provision of security guaranteeing that the transactions for which such licences are requested are effected;
Whereas the levy system makes it possible to dispense with all other protective measures at the external frontiers of the Community; whereas, however, the common price and levy machinery may, in exceptional circumstances, prove defective whereas, in such cases, so as not to leave the Community market without defence against disturbances, the Community should be enabled to take all necessary measures without delay;
Whereas, in a situation of high prices on the world market, provision should be made for appropriate measures to be taken in order to safeguard Community supplies and to stabilize prices on Community markets;
Whereas the establishment of a single market based on a common price system would be jeopardized by the granting of certain aids; whereas, therefore, the provisions of the Treaty which allow the assessment of aids granted by Member States and the prohibition of those which are incompatible with the common market should be made to apply to cereals;
Whereas the common organization of the market in cereals must include the products of primary processing which contain cereals or certain products which do not contain cereals but which are directly interchangeable in their use with cereals or with products obtained from cereals;
Whereas, in order to facilitate implementation of the proposed measures, a procedure should be laid down for establishing close cooperation between Member States and the Commission within a Management Committee;
Whereas the common organization of the market in cereals must take appropriate account, at the same time, of the objectives set out in Articles 39 and 110 of the Treaty;
Whereas the expenditure incurred by the Member States as a result of the obligations arising out of the application of this Regulation falls on the Community in accordance with the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) no 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (1);
Whereas the cut in common prices from the time of the entry into force of this Regulation is liable to disrupt the internal market; whereas provision should therefore be made for the possibility for the Commission to take any appropriate measures to avoid such disruptions;
Whereas, since their consolidation by Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75, several provisions concerning the organization of the market in cereals have been amended a number of times; whereas, by reason of their number, their complexity and their dispersal among various Official Journals, these texts are difficult to use and thus lack the clarity which should be an essential feature of all legislation; whereas they should, therefore, be updated,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. The common organiszation of the market in cereals shall cover the following products:
TABLE
2. This Regulation shall apply notwithstanding the measures provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 on assistance for arable farmers.
Article 2
The marketing year for all products listed in Article 1 shall begin on 1 July and end on 30 June of the following year.
TITLE 1
Pricing and intervention system
Article 3
1. A target price for all cereals shall be fixed at:
- ECU 130 per tonne for the 1993/94 marketing year,
- ECU 120 per tonne for the 1994/95 marketing year, and
- ECU 110 per tonne from the 1995/96 marketing year onwards.
2. A threshold price for all cereals shall be fixed at:
- ECU 175 per tonne for the 1993/94 marketing year,
- ECU 165 per tonne for the 1994/95 marketing year,
- ECU 155 per tonne from the 1995/96 marketing year onwards.
The threshold price for maize and sorghum valid during June, will be applicable during July, August and September of the following marketing year.
3. An intervention price for cereals subject to intervention shall be fixed at:
- ECU 117 per tonne for the 1993/94 marketing year,
- ECU 108 per tonne for the 1994/95 marketing year,
- ECU 100 per tonne from the 1995/96 marketing year onwards.
4. The prices shall be fixed for a standard quality for each cereal.
The intervention and threshold prices shall be subject to monthly increases, for the whole or part of the marketing year and may cover different periods for the two prices. The standard quality for each cereal for which intervention is available and the amounts of the monthly increases and their number, are determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 (2) of the Treaty.
The intervention price shall refer to the wholesale stage for goods delivered to the warehouse, before unloading. They shall be valid for all Community intervention centres designated for each cereal.
5. The prices fixed in this Regulation may be changed in the light of developments in production and the markets in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 (2) of the Treaty.
Article 4
1. The intervention agencies designated by the Member States shall buy in common wheat, durum wheat, rye, barley, maize and sorghum which are offered to them and have been harvested in the Community, provided that the offers comply with conditions laid down, in particular in respect of quality and quantity.
2. Buying-in may take place only in the following periods:
- from 1 August to 30 April in the case of Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal,
- from 1 November to 31 May in the case of the other Member States.
3. Buying-in shall be carried out on the basis of the intervention price, if necessary after a price increase or reduction for quality reasons.
Article 5
Detailed rules for the application of Articles 3 and 4 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, in particular as regards:
- the standard qualities to which threshold prices refer in the case of cereals for which intervention is not available and of the cereal products, referred to in Article 1 (1) (c),
- the determination of the intervention centres,
- the minimum conditions, in particular with respect to quality and quantity required of each cereal for it to be eligible for intervention,
- the scales of price increase and reduction applicable to intervention,
- the procedures and conditions for taking over by the intervention agencies,
- the procedures and conditions for disposal by the intervention agencies,
- the setting of the threshold prices for the products, referred to in Article 1 (1) (c), except for malt.
Article 6
1. Where the market situation so dictates, special intervention measures may be decided on.
Such intervention measures may in particular be taken if, in one or more regions of the Community market prices fall, or threaten to fall, in relation to the intervention price.
2. The nature and application of the special intervention measures and the conditions and procedures for the sale or for any other means of disposal of the products subject to those measures shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 7
1. A production refund may be granted for starch obtained from maize, wheat or potatoes and for certain derivatives used in the manufacture of certain goods.
A list of the goods referred to in the first subparagraph shall be drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 3.
2. The refund referred to in paragraph 1 shall be fixed periodically.
3. The Commission shall adopt detailed rules for the application of this Article and shall fix the amount of the said refund in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 8
1. A minimum price for potatoes intended for the manufacture of potato starch shall be set at:
- ECU 208 for the 1993/94 marketing year,
- ECU 192 for the 1994/95 marketing year, and
- ECU 176 from the 1995/96 marketing year onwards.
These prices apply to the quantity of potatoes, delivered to the factory, which are needed for making one tonne of starch.
2. A system of compensatory payments is established for producers of potatoes intended for the manufacture of potato starch. The amount of the payment applies to the quantity of potatoes needed for making one tonne of starch. It shall be set at:
- ECU 40 for the 1993/94 marketing year,
- ECU 56 for the 1994/95 marketing year, and
- ECU 72 from the 1995/96 marketing year onwards.
3. The minimum price and the compensatory payment shall be adjusted according to the starch content of the potatoes.
4. If the situation on the potato starch market makes it necessary, the Council shall adopt the appropriate measures in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 (2) of the Treaty.
5. The Commission shall adopt the detailed rules for applying this Article following the procedure laid down in Article 23.
TITLE II
Article 9
1. Imports into the Community, or exports therefrom, of any of the products listed in Article 1 shall be subject to the submission of an import or export licence which may be issued by Member States to any applicant, irrespective of the place of his establishment in the Community. Where the levy or refund is fixed in advance, the advance fixing shall be noted on the licence which serves as supporting document for such advance fixing.
The import or export licence shall be valid throughout the Community. The issue of such a licence shall be conditional on the lodging of a security guaranteeing that importation or exportation will be effected during the period of validity of the licence; the security shall be forfeited in whole or in part if the transaction is not effected, or is only partially effected, within that period.
2. The period of validity of licences and other detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 10
1. A levy equal for each product to the threshold price less the cif price shall be charged on imports of the products listed in Article 1 (1), (a), (b) and (c), except malt.
However, the levy applicable to rye shall be charged on imports of the products falling within CN code 1008 90 10.
2. The cif prices shall be calculated for Rotterdam on the basis of the most favourable purchasing opportunities on the world market, determined for each product on the basis of the quotations and prices of that market after adjustment for any differences in quality as compared with the standard quality for which the threshold price is fixed.
Differences in quality shall be expressed in coefficients of equivalence.
3. Where free quotations on the world market are not a determining factor for the offer price and where this price is lower than world market prices, a special cif price calculated on the basis of the offer price shall be substituted for the cif price solely for the imports in question.
4. Detailed rules for the application of this Article, and in particular the coefficients of equivalence, the rules for determining cif prices and the margin within which variations in the factors used for calculating the levy do not require any alteration of the levy, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
5. The Commission shall fix the levies mentioned in this Article.
Article 11
1. A levy shall be charged on imports of malt or products referred to in Article 1 (1) (d), with the exception of those falling within CN codes 0714 20 00, 0714 90 90, 2303 10 19, 2303 10 90, 2303 30 00, 2308 10 00 and 2308 90 30, consisting of two components:
A. a variable component which may be fixed and revised on a first-rate basis:
(a) corresponding, in respect of products processed from basic products listed in Article 1 (1) (a), to the incidence on their prime cost of the levies on those basic products;
(b) increased, where appropriate, for processed products which contain both basic products listed in Article 1 (1) (a) and other products, by the amount of the incidence on their prime cost of the levies or customs duties charged on those other products;
(c) fixed, for products which do not contain any basic products listed in Article 1 (1) (a), with reference to market conditions for those Article 1 products which are in competition with them;
B. A fixed component designed to protect the processing industry.
2. Where actual offers from third countries of products referred to in Article 1 (1) (d) do not correspond to the price which results from the price of basic products used in their manufacture plus processing costs, an amount fixed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 may be added to the levy fixed in accordance with paragraph 1.
3. The Commission shall fix the levies specified in paragraph 1.
4. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 12
1. The levy to be charged shall be that applicable on the day of importation.
2. However, as regards imports of products listed in Article 1 (1) (a) and (b), the levy applicable on the day on which application for a licence is lodged, adjusted on the basis of the threshold price which will be in force during the month of importation, shall be applied to an import to be effected during the period of validity of the licence, if the applicant so requests when applying for the licence. In this case, a premium, fixed at the same time as the levy, shall be added to the levy.
3. A decision may be taken, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, to apply the provisions of paragraph 2, in whole or in part, to any of the products listed in Article 1 (1) (c) and (d).
If an advance fixing of the levy has been prescribed for malt, the levy shall be adjusted during the first three months of the marketing year on the basis of the threshold price in force during the last month of the preceding marketing year.
4. The scale of premiums shall be fixed by the Commission.
5. Where examination of the market situation shows that the application of the provisions concerning the advance fixing of the levy has given rise, or may give rise, to difficulties, a decision may be taken, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 to suspend the application of those provisions for the period strictly necessary.
In cases of extreme urgency, the Commission may, after examination of the situation on the basis of all the information available to it, decide to suspend advance fixing for a maximum of three working days.
Applications for licences accompanied by applications for advance fixing lodged during the period of suspension shall be rejected.
6. Detailed rules for the application of this Article, and in particular those for advance fixing, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 13
1. To the extent necessary to enable the products listed in Article 1 to be exported in the state referred to therein or in the form of goods listed in Annex B on the basis of quotations or prices for those products on the world market, the difference between those quotations or prices and prices in the Community may be covered by an export refund.
2. The refund shall be the same for the whole Community. It may be varied according to use or destination.
The refund shall be granted on application.
Refunds shall be fixed at regular intervals in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Where necessary the Commission may, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, alter the refunds in the intervening period.
3. The amount of the refund applicable to exports of products listed in Article 1 and of goods listed in Annex B shall be that applicable on the day of exportation.
4. However, in the case of products listed in Article 1 (1) (a) and (b), the refund applicable on the day on which application for the licence is lodged, adjusted for the threshold price which will be in force during the month of exportation, shall be applied to an export to be effected during the period of validity of the licence if the applicant so requests when applying for the licence.
A corrective amount may be fixed. It shall be applied to refunds fixed in advance. The corrective amount shall be fixed at the same time as refund according to the same procedure; however, where necessary the Commission may, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, alter the corrective amounts in the intervening period.
The provisions of the first and second subparagraphs may be applied, in whole or in part, to any of the products listed in Article 1 (1) (c) and (d) and to any products listed in Article 1 which are exported in the form of goods specified in Annex B.
If advance fixing of the refund has been laid down for malt, the refund on exports, during the first three months of the marketing year, of malt in stock at the end of the preceding marketing year or made from barley in stock at the time shall be adjusted on the basis of the threshold price in force in the last month of the preceding marketing year.
5. Insofar as is necessary to take account of the particular features of the production of certain spirituous beverages obtained from cereals, the criteria for granting the export refunds referred to in paragraph 1 and the supervision procedures may be adapted to this particular situation. The Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 shall lay down the detailed rules needed for this adaptation.
6. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23. Annex B shall be amended in accordance with the same procedure.
7. Where examination of the market situation shows that the application of the provisions concerning the advance fixing of the export refund has given rise, or may give rise, to difficulties, a decision may be taken, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, to suspend the application of those provisions for the period strictly necessary.
In cases of extreme urgency, the Commission may, after examination of the situation on the basis of all the information available to it, decide to suspend advance fixing for a maximum of three working days.
Applications for licences accompanied by applications for advance fixing lodged during the period of suspension shall be rejected.
Article 14
1. To the extent necessary for the proper working of the common organization of the market in cereals, the use of inward processing arrangements may be prohibited in whole or in part:
- in respect of products listed in Article 1 which are intended for the manufacture of products listed in Article 1 (1) (c) and (d),
- and, in special cases, in respect of products listed in Article 1 which are intended for the manufacture of goods listed in Annex B.
2. Measures adopted pursuant to this Article shall be decided on in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 15
1. The general rules for the interpretation of the combined nomenclature and the special rules for its application shall apply to the tariff classification of products covered by this Regulation.
2. Save as otherwise provided in this Regulation or where derogation therefrom is decided by the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, the following shall be prohibited in trade with third countries.
- the levying of any customs duty or charge having equivalent effect,
- the application of any quantitative restriction or measure having equivalent effect.
Article 16
1. When the quotations or prices on the world market for one or more of the products referred to in Article 1 reach the level of Community prices, and when that situation is likely to continue and to deteriorate, thereby disturbing or threatening to disturb the Community market, appropriate measures may be taken.
2. The detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 17
1. If, by reason of imports or exports, the Community market in one or more of the products listed in Article 1 experiences, or is threatened with, serious disturbances which may endanger the objectives set out in Article 39 of the Treaty, appropriate measures may be applied in trade with third countries until such disturbance or threat of disturbance has ceased.
2. If the situation mentioned in paragraph 1 arises, the Commission shall, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, decide upon the necessary measures; the measures shall be communicated to the Member States and shall be immediately applicable. If the Commission receives a request from a Member State, it shall take a decision thereon within three days following receipt of the request.
3. Measures decided upon by the Commission may be referred to the Council by any Member State within three working days of the day on which they were communicated. The Council shall meet without delay. It may, acting by a qualified majority, amend or repeal the measures in question.
4. Detailed rules for application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
TITLE III
General provisions
Article 18
Goods listed in Article 1 which are manufactured or obtained from products to which Articles 9 (2) and 10 (1) of the Treaty do not apply shall not be admitted to free circulation within the Community.
Article 19
Save as otherwise provided in this Regulation, Articles 92 to 94 of the Treaty shall apply to the production of, and trade in, the products listed in Article 1.
Article 20
Article 40 (4) of the Treaty and the relevant provisions for the implementation of Article 40 shall, so far as the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund is concerned, apply to the French overseas departments in respect of the products referred to in Article 1.
Article 21
Member States and the Commission shall communicate to each other the information necessary for implementing this Regulation and for complying with the international obligations concerning cereals. Rules for the communication and distribution of such information shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23.
Article 22
1. A Management Committee for Cereals (hereinafter called the 'Committee`) shall be established, consisting of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.
2. Within the Committee, the votes of Member States shall be weighted in accordance with Article 148 (2) of the Treaty. The Chairman shall not vote.
Article 23
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the Chairman shall refer the matter to the Committee, either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit a draft of the measures to be adopted. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit set by the Chairman according to the urgency of the matter. An opinion shall be delivered by a majority of 54 votes.
3. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall forthwith be communicated by the Commission to the Council. In that event the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has adopted for not more than one month from the date of such communication.
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within one month.
Article 24
The Committee may consider any other question referred to it by its Chairman either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.
Article 25
This Regulation shall be so applied that appropriate account is taken, at the same time, of the objectives set out in Articles 39 and 110 of the Treaty.
Article 26
1. Council Regulation No 2727/75 is hereby repealed with effect from the 1993/94 marketing year.
References to the Regulation repealed by paragraph 1 shall be construed as references to this Regulation.
A table is provided in Annex C for the purposes of correlating citations of and references to the Articles of that Regulation with those of this Regulation.
2. The following Regulations are hereby repealed:
- with effect from the 1992/93 marketing year:
- Regulations (EEC) No 729/89 and (EEC) No 1346/90,
- with effect from the beginning of the 1993/94 marketing year:
- Regulations (EEC) No 2743/75, (EEC) No 2744/75, (EEC) No 2745/75, (EEC) No 2746/75, (EEC) No 2747/75 with regard to cereals, (EEC) No 2748/75, (EEC) No 1145/76, (EEC) No 3103/76, (EEC) No 1188/81, (EEC) No 1008/86, (EEC) No 1009/86 with regard to cereals, (EEC) No 1581/86, (EEC) No 1582/86, (EEC) No 2226/88 and (EEC) No 1835/89.
3. To facilitate the transition from the current arrangement as regards the common organization of the market in cereals to the arrangements resulting from this Regulation, or to facilitate the transition from one marketing year to the next during the 1993/94, 1994/95 and 1995/96 marketing years, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 may adopt any transitional measures deemed appropriate.
Article 27
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply as from the 1993/94 marketing year with the exception of the provisions of Article 26 (2), first indent and (3) which shall apply as from 1 July 1992.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Luxembourg, 30 June 1992.