Commission Regulation (EC) No 1173/2001

of 15 June 2001

opening an invitation to tender for the resale on the internal market of approximately 11764 tonnes of rice held by the Italian intervention agency

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1667/2000(2), and in particular the final indent of Article 8(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Approximately 11764 tonnes of paddy rice held by the Italian intervention agency should be placed on sale on the Community market. The sale should be carried out in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 75/91 of 11 January 1991 laying down the procedures and conditions for the disposal of paddy rice held by intervention agencies(3).

(2) As a result of the product's deterioration after a long period of storage, a minimum selling price should be determined for each lot put up for sale, taking account of its specific characteristics, in accordance with Article 2(3)(d) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3597/90 of 12 December 1990 on the accounting rules for intervention measures involving the buying-in, storage and sale of agricultural products by intervention agencies(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1392/97(5). However, in view of the deterioration of several of these lots, no minimum price should be fixed for these lots and they should be awarded to the highest bidder.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Italian intervention agency shall open, on the conditions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 75/91, an invitation to tender for the resale on the internal market of approximately 11764 tonnes of rice held by that agency.

Article 2

Notwithstanding Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 75/91, tenders must relate to an entire lot.

Article 3

1. The closing date for the initial submission of tenders shall be 25 June 2001; for the final submission of tenders it shall be 30 July 2001.

2. Tenders must be submitted to the Italian intervention agency: Ente Nazional Risi Piazza Pio XI - 1 I - 20123 Milano Tel. (39-02) 885 51 11 Fax (39-02) 86 13 72

3. The products are stored in the following warehouses:

Via Buozzi 9 - Revere (MN)

Via XXV Aprile Ovest 12 - S. Ilario d'Enza (RE)

Article 4

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Article 5

By Tuesday of the week following the closing date for the submission of tenders, the Italian intervention agency shall notify the Commission of the quantities and prices of the lots sold.

Article 6

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

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

Done at Brussels, 15 June 2001.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 329, 30.12.1995, p. 18.

(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 9, 12.1.1991, p. 15.

(4) OJ L 350, 14.12.1990, p. 43.

(5) OJ L 190, 19.7.1997, p. 22.