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            COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 938/2006

of 23 June 2006         

opening crisis distillation as provided for in Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for certain wine in France

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine (1), and in particular Article 33(1)(f) thereof,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Crisis distillation as provided for in Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 is hereby opened for a maximum of 1,5 million hectolitres of table wine and 1,5 million hectolitres of quality wines produced in specified regions (quality wines psr) in France, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 concerning this type of distillation.

Article 2

Producers may conclude contracts as provided for in Article 65 of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 (hereinafter referred to as contracts) from 29 June to 28 July 2006.

Contracts shall be accompanied by proof that a security equal to EUR 5 per hectolitre has been lodged.

Contracts may not be transferred.

Article 3

1.   If the total quantities covered by the contracts submitted to the intervention agency exceed the quantities laid down in Article 1, France shall determine the rates of reduction to be applied to those contracts.

2.   France shall take the administrative steps necessary to approve the contracts not later than 22 August 2006. The approval shall specify any rate of reduction applied and the quantity of wine accepted per contract and shall stipulate that the producer may cancel the contract where the quantity to be distilled is reduced.

France shall notify the Commission before 29 August 2006 of the quantities of wine covered by approved contracts.

3.   France may limit the number of contracts that individual producers may conclude under this Regulation.

Article 4

1.   The quantities of wine covered by approved contracts shall be delivered to the distilleries not later than 28 February 2007. The alcohol obtained shall be delivered to the intervention agency in accordance with Article 6(1) not later than 31 May 2007.

2.   The security shall be released in proportion to the quantities delivered when the producer presents proof of delivery to a distillery.

The security shall be forfeit where no delivery is made within the time limit laid down in paragraph 1.

Article 5

The minimum price paid for wine delivered for distillation under this Regulation shall be EUR 1,914/% vol/hl for table wine and EUR 3,000/% vol/hl for quality wines psr.

Article 6

1.   Distillers shall deliver the product obtained from distillation to the intervention agency. That product shall be of an alcoholic strength of at least 92 % vol.

2.   The price to be paid to the distiller by the intervention agency for the raw alcohol delivered shall be EUR 2,281/% vol/hl where it is produced from table wine and EUR 3,367/% vol/hl where it is produced from quality wines psr. The payment shall be made in accordance with Article 62(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000.

Distillers may receive an advance on those amounts of EUR 1,122/% vol/hl in the case of alcohol produced from table wine and EUR 2,208/% vol/hl in the case of alcohol produced from quality wines psr. In that case the advances shall be deducted from the prices actually paid. Articles 66 and 67 of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 shall apply.

Article 7

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 29 June 2006.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 23 June 2006.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL            

Member of the Commission

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(1)OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2165/2005 (OJ L 345, 28.12.2005, p. 1).

(2)OJ L 194, 31.7.2000, p. 45. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1820/2005 (OJ L 293, 9.11.2005, p. 8).

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