NoL173/2 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 29.6.78
COUNCILREGULATION (EEC)No1439/78
of19June1978
ondirectcooperationbetweenthebodiesdesignatedbyMemberStatestoverify
compliancewithCommunityandnationalprovisionsinthewinesector
context,provisionshouldbemadeforrequestingthe
assistanceofaqualifiedexpertandforcooperation
betweenthecompetentbodiesofthevariousMember
States,particularlyifothermeasureshavenotmadeit
possibletoestablishthattheproductinquestion
complieswiththewineprovisions;
Whereas,withaviewtointroducingasimpleproce­
dureforthiscooperation ,provisionshouldbemade
forregularchecksonthegenuinenessofentrieson
accompanying documentsandinturnoverrecords;
whereasforthesamepurposeitshouldbepossibleto
sendsamplesforanalysisororganolepticexamination
directlytothelaboratoriesentitledtoperformthis
task;whereasitisthereforenecessarytoensurecoop­
erationbetweenthelaboratorytowhichthesamples
havebeensentandthecompetentbodyofthe
MemberStateconcerned ;THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
EconomicCommunity ,
HavingregardtoCouncilRegulation (EEC)No
816/70of28April1970layingdownadditionalprovi­
sionsforthecommonorganizationofthemarketin
wine('),aslastamendedbyRegulation (EEC)No
2560/77(2),andinparticularArticle39a(2)thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission ,
Whereas,underArticle39a(2)ofRegulation (EEC)
No816/70,theyecessarymeasuresshouldbetakento
ensureuniformapplicationofCommunityprovisions
inthewinesector,particularlyasregardscontrols;
whereasthisaimcanonlybeachievedbymeansof
directcooperationbetweenthebodiesdesignatedby
theMemberStatestoverifycompliancewiththeprovi­
sionsinthewinesector,asprovidedforinparagraph
1ofthesaidArticle;whereasrulesshouldbeadopted
forcontactsbetweenthosebodies,stipulatingthe
subjectswhichmayformpartofsuchcooperation ;
WhereastheMemberStateonwhoseterritoryitisoffi­
ciallyestablishedthataproductreferredtoinArticle
1(2)ofRegulation (EEC)No816/70compliesneither
withtheCommunitywineprovisionsnorthenational
provisionsadoptedpursuanttotheformershould,of
itsownaccord,informthecompetentbodyofthe
MemberStatefromwhosegeographicalterritorythe
productcomesand,ifitdoesnotoriginatethere,the
competentbodyoftheMemberStateoforigin,ifnon­
compliancecouldbeofspecificinteresttooneor
moreoftheotherMemberStatesandwouldbeofa
naturetogiverisetoadministrative measuresorjudi­
cialproceedings ;whereasinordertostopthe
marketingofanyproductwhichdoesnotcomply
withtheprovisionsinforcethroughouttheCommu­
nity,provisionshouldbemadeforthecompetent
bodiesofallMemberStatesconcernedtobein­
formed;
Whereasanexchangeofanyrelevantinformation
shouldbeestablishedbetweenMemberStatessoasto
rendermoreeffectivetheinvestigationofanyinfringe­
mentsofthewineprovisions ;whereas,inthisWhereas,inthissamecontext,itshouldbelaiddown
that,wheretheCommission hasreasonablecausefor
suspectingthatirregularitieshaveoccurredinconnec­
tionwiththeproductionandmarketingofoneofthe
productsreferredtoabove,itshallinformthecompe­
tentbodyoftheMemberStateconcernedandrequest
ittoconductanadministrative inquiry;whereas,for
thepurposesofefficientcoordinationofcooperation
betweenthecompetentbodiesofthevariousMember
States,dulyauthorizedCommissionagentsshouldbe
abletoobtainparticularsofanadministrative nature
ofsuchaninquiryfromthecompetentbodiesofa
MemberState;
Whereas,inanefforttoexpeditetheinvestigationof
fraud,thebodytowhicharequestisaddressedinthe
contextofcooperationbetweenthecompetentbodies
ofthevariousMemberStatesshouldtakeaction
thereonasquicklyaspossible;
WhereasunderArticle39aofRegulation (EEC)No
816/70MemberStatesmusttakethenecessary
measurestoensurecompliancewithCommunitypro­
visions;whereas,however,itisnotinconceivable that,
incertainparticularcases,aMemberStatemay,for
reasonsoffactoroflaw,beunabletotakeactionon
allorpartofarequestaddressedtoit;whereas,in
orderthatcooperationmaynotbejeopardizedby
casesofthisnature,thereasonsforsuchanattitude
shouldbegiven;(')OJNoL99,5.5.1970,p.I.
(2)OJNoL303,28.11.1977,p.1.

29.6.78 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL173/3
Whereas,inordertoavertthepossibilityofinforma­
tionbeingdisclosedtonon-authorized persons,itis
necessarythatitbecoveredbyprofessionalsecrecy;
Whereas,inordertoensurethatthecooperation
referredtointhisRegulationiseffective,theproceed­
ingsoftheManagementCommitteeforWineshould
includearegulardiscussionbetweenrepresentatives of
thecompetentbodiesofalltheMemberStates;
whereasthisdiscussionshouldontheonehanddeal
withcurrentquestionsrelatingtoestablishedor
suspectedinfringements oftheprovisionsconcerned
andontheotherhandhelptoensuretheuniform
applicationofthoseprovisionsthroughoutthe
Community ;
WhereascertainprovisionsofthisRegulation
concerningdirectcooperationbetweenthecompetent
bodiesofthevariousMemberStatesnecessitatethe
drawingupofthedetailedrulesforitsimplementa­
tion,and,ifitdoesnotoriginatethere,thecompetent
bodyoftheMemberStateoforigin;
(b)thecompetentbodyofanyMemberState
concerned,shouldthedescriptionorpresentation
oftheproductbesuchastomisleadthe
consumer .
ThecompetentbodyofanyMemberStateconcerned
shallinvestigatewhetherbatchesoftheproduct
concernedweresentfromitsterritorytoother
MemberStates,inwhichcaseitshallprovidethe
competentbodiesofthoseMemberStateswithallrele­
vantinformation .
2.Theinformationreferredtoinparagraph 1shall
beaccompanied bytherelevantdocumentaryorother
evidenceaswellasbyanindicationofanyadministra­
tivemeasuresorjudicialproceedingsandshall
concerninparticular :
—thecompositionandorganolepticcharacteristics ,
—thedescriptionandpresentation ,
—compliancewiththerulesprescribedfortheprepa­
rationandmarketing,
oftheproductinquestion.
Article3
ThecompetentbodyoftheMemberStateinwhose
geographicalterritoryoneoftheproductsreferredto
inArticle 1(2)ofRegulation (EEC)No816/70is
found:
(a)shallrequestthecompetentbodyofoneormore
otherMemberStatestoprovideitwithanyrele­
vantinformation concerning thepoints
mentionedinthefirsttothirdindentsofArticle2
(2),ifthereisreasonablecauseforsuspectingthat
theproductdoesnotconformtothewineprovi­
sions.
Thecompetentbodysorequestedshallstudyin
detailthegroundsforsuspicionbroughttoits
attentionandshallforwardtothecompetentbody
makingtherequestallinformation ,documentsor
otherevidencewhichmayberelevantforclari­
fyingtheissue;
(b)may,ifthereisreasonablecauseforsuspecting
thattheproductdoesnotconformtothewine
provisions,requestthecompetentbodyofthe
MemberStatefromwhosegeographicalterritory
theproductcomesand,ifitdoesnotoriginate
there,thecompetentbodyoftheMemberStateof
origin:
—toappointaqualifiedexpertandensurethat
heispresentatsupervisoryoperations ;
—totakepartintheconcertedandrapidexami­
nationofoneormorebatchesoftheproduct.HASADOPTEDTHISREGULATION :
Article1
1.ThisRegulationlaysdownmeasuresregarding
therelationswhichthebodies(hereinaftercalled
'competentbodies')designatedbyMemberStatesto
verifycompliancewithCommunityprovisionsinthe
winesectorshallmaintainbetweenthemselvesand
withtheCommissionforthepreventionandinvestiga­
tionofanyinfringement ofthesaidCommunityprovi­
sionsandnationalprovisionsadoptedpursuant
thereto(hereinaftercalled'wineprovisions').
2.ThisRegulationshallnotaffecttheapplication
intheMemberStatesofregulationsrelatingtomutual
assistanceincriminalmatters,mutualassistancein
customsmatters,ortaxregulations .
Article2
1.WherethecompetentbodyofaMemberStatein
whosegeographical territoryoneoftheproducts
referredtoinArticle1(2)ofRegulation (EEC)No
816/70isfoundestablishesthat:
—theproductdoesnotcomplywiththewineprovi­
sions,and
—thisnon-compliance isofspecificinteresttoone
ormoreMemberStatesandisofanaturetogive
risetoadministrative measuresorjudicialproceed­
ings,
itshallinform:
(a)thecompetentbodyoftheMemberStatefrom
whosegeographicalterritorytheproductcomes

NoL173/4 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 29.6.78
Article4
1.ThecompetentbodyoftheMemberStatein
whosegeographicalterritoryoneoftheproductslisted
inArticle1(2)ofRegulation (EEC)No816/70is
found,shallrequest:
(a)thecompetentbodyoftheMemberStatefrom
whosegeographicalterritorytheproductcomes
and,ifitdoesnotoriginatethere,thecompetent
bodyoftheMemberStateoforigin,tocheckthe
documentsandtheentriesintherecords,provided
forunderArticle29ofRegulation (EEC)No
816/70,wheretheseareopentodoubt;
(b)ifitdeemsitnecessary,alaboratoryasreferredto
inthesecondindentofparagraph3situatedinthe
geographicalterritoryoftheMemberStatefrom
whichtheproductcomesor,ifitdoesnotorigi­
natethere,inthegeographicalterritoryofthe
MemberStateoforigin,tomakeananalyticaland
organolepticexamination ofasampleofthe
productwhichhasbeensenttoit,wherethereis
reasonablecauseforsuspectingfraud.
2.Whenasampleissenttothelaboratoryreferred
toinparagraph 1(b),thecompetentbodymakingthe
requestshallatthesametimeinformthecompetent
bodyoftheMemberStateinwhoseterritorythelabor­
atoryissituated.Theresultsofthetestsreferredtoin
paragraph 1(b)andtheinterpretations ofthesetests
shallbeforwardedtothecompetentbodymakingthe
requestviathecompetentbodyoftheMemberState
inwhoseterritorythelaboratoryissituated.
3.EachMemberStateshallcommunicate tothe
Commissionby1September1978:
—thenamesofthecompetentbodiesandlaborato­
riesreferredtointhesecondsubparagraph of
Article39a(1)ofRegulation (EEC)No816/70;
—thoseoftheabovementioned laboratoriesentitled
tocarryoutanalysesinaccordancewithpara­
graphs1(b)and2.2.TheMemberStateshallforwardthereport
preparedandtheconclusionsreachedfollowingthe
inquirytotheCommission .
3.Paragraph 1shallbewithoutprejudicetothe
applicationofArticle6ofCouncilRegulation (EEC)
No283/72of7February1972concerningirregulari­
tiesandtherecoveryofsumswronglypaidinconnec­
tionwiththefinancingofthecommonagricultural
policyandtheorganizationofaninformationsystem
inthisfield(').
Article6
Thecompetentbodyorlaboratorytowhicharequest
ofthetypementionedintheprecedingArticlesis
addressedshalltakeactiononitasquicklyaspossible.
However,ifsucharequestcannotbemet,whether
whollyorpartially,thecompetentbodyconcerned
shallwithoutdelayinformthecompetentbody
makingtherequestor,whereArticle5isconcerned,
theCommission ,statingthereasons.
Article7
Thecontentoftheexchangeofinformationprovided
forinthisRegulationshallbecoveredbyprofessional
secrecy.Itmaynotbecommunicated toanypersons
otherthanthosewho,byreasonoftheirdutiesinthe
MerpberStatesorintheinstitutionsoftheCommuni­
ties,arerequiredtohaveknowledgethereofforthe
purposesofcarryingouttheseduties.
Article8
Representatives oftheMemberStatesonthecompe­
tentbodiesreferredtoinArticle 1shallmeetat
regularintervalswithintheManagementCommittee
forWinesetupbyArticle6ofRegulationNo24(2)
inordertodiscuss:
—theproblemsraisedbytheapplicationofthis
Regulation ,andinparticulartoexamineproce­
duresforexchanginginformationandtodraw
conclusions ;
—anyotherproblemrelatingtotheuniformsupervi­
sionofCommunityprovisionsinthewinesector.
Article9
Ifnecessary,detailedrulesforimplementing this
Regulationshallbeadoptedasregards:
—exchangeofinformation ,bearinginmindthe
needtoproceedrapidly;Article5
1.WheretheCommission hasreasonablecausefor
suspectingthatirregularitieshaveoccurredinoneor
moreMemberStatesinconnectionwiththeproduc­
tionandmarketingofoneoftheproductsreferredto
inArticle1(2)ofRegulation (EEC)No816/70,it
shallinformthecompetentbodyconcerned,which
shallconductanadministrative inquiry.
TheCommissionmayaskthecompetentbodyin
questiontomakeparticularsofanadministrative
natureofsuchaninquiryavailabletodulyauthorized
Commissionagents.(')OJNoL36,10.2.1972,p.1.
(2)OJNo30,20.4.1962,p.989/62.

29.6.78 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL173/5
—samplinganddispatchofsamplesbythecompe­
tentbodymakingtherequestandalsoacceptance
ofresponsibility fortheircostsofanalysisbythat
body;
—acceptanceofresponsibility bythecompetent
bodymakingtherequestfortheexpensesincurred
byaqualifiedexpertinaMemberStateotherthan
thatinwhoseserviceheisemployed .Article10
ThisRegulationshallenterintoforceonthethirdday
followingitspublicationintheOfficialJournalof
theEuropeanCommunities .
Itshallapplyasfrom1September1978,withthe
exceptionofArticle4(3)whichshallapplyasfromits
entryintoforce.
ThisRegulationshallbebindinginitsentiretyanddirectlyapplicableinallMember
States.
DoneatLuxembourg ,19June1978.
FortheCouncil
ThePresident
P.DALSAGER