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COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2658/88

of 25 August 1988

fixing the reference prices applicable in the wine sector for 1988/89

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common organization of the market in wine (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2253/88 (2), and in particular Article 53 (6) thereof,

Whereas Article 53 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 provides that a reference price for red wine and a reference price for white wine must be fixed annually; whereas those reference prices must be fixed on the basis of the guide price for the types of red and white table wine most representative of Community production plus the costs incurred in bringing Community wines to the sames marketing stage as imported wines;

Whereas the types of table wine most representative of Community production are tapes R I and A I as defined in Annex III to Regulation (EEC) No 822/87; whereas the guide prices for those types of wine, as given in Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2254/88 (3), have been set at the same levels as those adopted for the preceding wine year;

Whereas the third subparagraph of Article 53 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 provides that reference prices are also to be fixed for grape juice (including grape must) falling within CN codes 2009 60 and 2204 30 91, for concentrated grape juice (including grape must) falling within CN codes 2009 60, 2204 30 91 and 2204 30 99 for fresh grape must with fermentation arrested by the addition of alcohol within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (a) of Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature, for wine fortified for distillation within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (b) of Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature and for liqueur wine within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (c) of Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature;

Whereas, since special reference prices are to be fixed for products in accordance with their special characteristics or uses, such prices should be fixed for wines of the Riesling or Sylvaner variety and for liqueur wines to be used in the preparation of products other than those falling within CN code 2204 whereas, lastly, standard amounts corresponding to the normal costs of market preparation must be established for addition to the reference prices for the various products in cases where they are put up either in containers of not more than two litres or in containers of more than two but not more than 20 litres;

Whereas the reference prices for liqueur wines, which are fixed per hectolitre, must be established having regard to the price levels ruling in the Community for the product in question; whereas a total dry extract exceeding the limits considered normal is a characteristic feature of certain liqueur wines falling within CN codes 2204 21 35, 2204 21 39, 2204 29 35 and 2204 29 39; whereas, pursuant to the rules in Additional Note 3 (b) to Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature, the said liqueur wines are not classified in the category corresponding to their alcoholic strength but in the next higher category and are therefore subject to a higher reference price than that fixed for the category which corresponds to their alcoholic strength; whereas, moreover, the mechanism referred to above does not apply to certain competing liqueur wines falling within CN codes 2204 21 and 2204 29; whereas, in view of the quantity of imports of such wines, reference prices should be fixed for them so as to ensure equality of treatment between the various liqueur wines;

Whereas the fifth subparagraph of Article 53 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 makes provision for the reference price to be adjusted for the non-European parts of the Community; whereas the market situation is such that an adjustment is necessary only for the French overseas department of Réunion;

Whereas the costs, with the exception of those in respect of losses incurred in bringing Community wines to the same marketing stage as imported wines, to be established as specified in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 344/79 (4) may be assessed at a standard rate; whereas there has been no increase in those costs and the other factors taken into account since the last occasion on which prices where fixed;

Whereas the reference prices should be fixed in accordance with the criteria laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 344/79; whereas, having regard to the aims of the Community's wine-growing policy and the contribution which the Community intends to make to the harmonious development of world trade, the reference price for the 1988/89 wine year should be fixed at the same levels as those adopted for the previous wine year;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the 1988/89 wine year, the reference prices shall be as follows:

A. Products falling within CN codes 2204 21 and 2204 29:

1. red and rosé wine:

4,48 ECU per % vol actual alcoholic strength per hectolitre;

2. white wine other than that specified in point 3 below:

4,23 ECU per % vol actual alcoholic strength per hectolitre;

3. white wine put up for importation under the name Riesling or Sylvaner:

89,63 ECU per hectolitre;

4. wine fortified for distillation within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (b) to Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature:

2,61 ECU per % vol actual alocholic strength per hectolitre;

5. fresh grape must with fermentation arrested by the addition of alcohol within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (a) of Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature:

2,80 ECU per % vol total alcoholic strength per hectolitre;

6. liqueur wine within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (c) of Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature falling within the following CN codes:

(a) 2204 21 35, 2204 21 39, 2204 29 35 and 2204 29 39: 69 ECU per hectolitre;

(b) ex 2204 21 41, 2204 21 49, ex 2204 29 41 and 2204 29 49:

(aa) 15 % vol with more than 130 grams but not more than 330 grams of total dry extract per litre: 69 ECU per hectolitre,

(bb) other: 75,20 ECU per hectolitre;

(c) ex 2204 21 51, 2204 21 59, ex 2204 29 51 and 2204 29 59: 92 ECU per hectolitre;

(d) 2204 21 90 and 2204 29 90: 99,30 ECU per hectolitre;

7. Liqueur wine within the meaning of Additional Note 4 (c) to Chapter 22 of the combined nomenclature intended for processing into products other than those falling within CN code 2204:

(a) 2204 21 35, 2204 21 39, 2204 29 35 and 2204 29 39: 60,60 ECU per hectolitre;

(b) ex 2204 21 41, 2204 21 49, ex 2204 29 41 and 2204 29 49: 64,80 ECU per hectolitre;

(c) ex 2204 21 51, 2204 21 59, ex 2204 29 51 and 2204 29 59: 78,40 ECU per hectolitre;

(d) 2204 21 90 and 2204 29 90: 86,70 ECU per hectolitre.

B. The reference prices for the products referred to under A (1) and A (2) shall be increased by 1 ECU per % vol actual alcoholic strength per hectolitre where the wine is imported into the French overseas department of Réunion.

C. Products falling within CN codes 2009 60, 2204 30 91 and 2204 30 99:

1. grape juice (including grape must), concentrated or not, with an added sugar content not exceeding 30 % by weight, falling within CN codes 2009 60, 2204 30 91 and 2204 30 99:

(a) white: 3,84 ECU per % vol potential alcoholic strength per hectolitre,

(b) other: 4,07 ECU per % vol potential alcoholic strength per hectolitre;

2. grape juice (including grape must), concentrated or not, with an added sugar content of more than 30 % by weight, falling within CN codes 2009 60, 2204 30 91 and 2204 30 99:

(a) white: 3,84 ECU per % vol potential alcoholic strength per hectolitre,

(b) other: 4,07 ECU per % vol potential alcoholic strength per hectolitre.

D. The standard amount per hectolitre to be added in the case of the products specified in A (1), A (2), A (3) and A (6) shall be:

- 42,30 ECU per hectolitre where they are put up in container of a content not exceeding two litres,

- 21,15 ECU per hectolitre where they are put up in containers of a content of more than two litres but not more than 20 litres.

Article 2

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

It shall apply with effect from 1 September 1988. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 August 1988.

For the Commission

Frans ANDRIESSEN

Vice-President

(1) OJ No L 84, 27. 3. 1987, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 198, 26. 7. 1988, p. 35.

(3) OJ No L 198, 26. 7. 1988, p. 40.

(4) OJ No L 54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 67.