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COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3575/83

of 14 December 1983

amending Regulation (EEC) No 104/76 laying down common marketing standards for shrimps of the genus 'Crangon' spp

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 of 29 December 1981 on the common organization of the market in fishery products (1), and in particular Article 2 (3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, under Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81, common marketing standards may be determined for the products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation or for groups of those products;

Whereas experience has shown that certain minimum features should be specified in respect of the freshness categories;

Whereas, when common marketing standards are fixed for shrimps, account should be taken of the fact that the sizes concerned meet market requirements; whereas the marketing for human consumption of shrimps which are below a certain minimum size in terms of shell width should therefore be prohibited; whereas the size categories for shrimps should be altered accordingly;

Whereas the landing, on a geographically limited scale, of shrimps below the minimum size may, in exceptional cases to be determined, meet specific local market requirements;

Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 104/76 (2) should therefore be amended,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EEC) No 104/76 is hereby amended as follows:

1. In the title and Article 1, 'spp' is replaced by 'Crangon';

2. In Article 5 (1):

(i) under the heading 'Freshness category A':

the last indent of subparagraph (a) is replaced by the following:

'- the shrimps must be free from sand, mucus and other foreign bodies';

the first indent of subparagraph (b) is replaced by the following:

'- bright brownish-red verging on grey; the pectoral part of the shell should be predominantly light in colour';

(ii) under the heading 'Freshness category B':

the first indent of subparagraph (b) is replaced by the following:

'- slightly washed-out reddish-brown colour; the pectoral part of the shell should be predominantly dark';

3. Article 7 is replaced by the following:

'Article 7

1. Shrimps shall be graded in the following size categories:

Width of shell:

- size 1: 6,8 mm and over,

- size 2: from 6,5 to 6,8 mm exclusive.

2. Lots of shrimps of a given size category must not include shrimps which are of a smaller size than that of the category to which such lots belong. A small lot need not, however, be of uniform size; if it is not, the lot shall be placed in size category 2.

3. The size category must be clearly and indelibly marked, in characters at least 5 cm high, on labels affixed to the lot.

4. To the extent required in order to provide local supplies for certain coastal areas in the Community, derogations from the minimum size specified in paragraph 1 may be allowed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 33 of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 (1).

(1) OJ No L 379, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1.'

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1984.

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

Done at Brussels, 14 December 1983.

For the Council

The President

C. SIMITIS

(1) OJ No L 379, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 20, 28. 1. 1976, p. 35.