No C 298/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.11.83 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 on the 
common organization of the market in cereals 
COM(83) 604 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 18 October 1983) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the purpose of the introduction of a 
guarantee threshold in the cereals sector by Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 ('), as last amended 
by Regulation (EEC) No 1451/82 (2), was to help to 
guide production in the right direction and thus 
alleviate the burden on the Community budget; 
whereas up to now the durum wheat sector has not 
been covered by such a system; 
Whereas the recent trend in the areas under durum 
wheat has led to some regional surpluses, disposal of 
which is proving particularly difficult; whereas the 
production of durum wheat also constitutes a 
relatively heavy burden for the Community budget; 
whereas provision should therefore be made for the 
application of a guarantee threshold for durum wheat 
as well; 
Whereas, in terms of quantity, production of durum 
wheat in the Communities meets internal demand; 
whereas, however, regional surpluses build up 
because durum wheat is grown only in certain areas; 
whereas it is not therefore appropriate to maintain a 
permanent intervention system since an intervention 
system similar to that for common wheat of bread-
making quality is sufficient to safeguard producers' 
incomes; 
O OJNoL281, 1. 11. 1975, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 164, 14. 6. 1982, p. 1. Whereas the third subparagraph of Article 3 a (1) of 
Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 provides that the 
measures applicable in the event of the guarantee 
threshold being exceeded will not affect the target 
prices; whereas this provision may, in certain cases, 
make the objectives of co-responsibility more difficult 
to attain; whereas it is accordingly appropriate to 
replace the provision by one providing that the annual 
decision as to what extent threshold prices should be 
affected is to take account of the foreseeable market 
situation; 
Whereas, in view of the increasing production of 
sorghum and its competitive position in relation to 
the other feed grains, the common single intervention 
price should be applied to that cereal with effect from 
the 1984/85 marketing year; 
Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 should 
therefore be amended, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 is hereby amended as 
follows: 
1. The first subparagraph of Article 3 (1) is hereby 
replaced by the following: 
'Before 1 August each year, the following prices 
shall be fixed for the Community for the 
marketing year beginning the following year: 
— a common, single intervention price for 
common wheat, rye, barley, maize and 
sorghum, 
— a single intervention price for durum wheat, 
— a reference price for common wheat of bread-
making quality, 
— a target price for common wheat and for 
durum wheat and a common target price for 
rye, barley, maize and sorghum.' 
4.11.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 298/5 
2. The second subparagraph of Article 3 (5) is hereby 
replaced by the following: 
'They shall be calculated by adding a market 
element ftnd an element reflecting the cost of 
transport between the Ormes area and the 
Duisburg area: 
— to the reference price, for common wheat, 
— to the single intervention price, for durum 
wheat, 
— to the common, single intervention price, for 
rye, barley, maize and sorghum.' 
3. The first sentence of the fourth subparagraph of 
Article 3 (5) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'The market element for rye, barley, maize and 
sorghum shall reflect the difference which must 
exist between the market price for barley and the 
common single intervention price, plus the 
difference in market prices reflecting the ratio 
between the relative values of barley and maize for 
use in animal fed.' 
4. Article 3a (1) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'1. Each year, when the prices referred to in 
Article 3 (1) are fixed, the Council shall, under the 
same procedure, fix a guarantee threshold: 
— for durum wheat, 
— for the other cereals. 
Should actual average production over the three 
most recent preceding marketing years exceed the 
guarantee threshold fixed for the year in question, 
the common, single intervention price for common 
wheat, rye, barley, maize and sorghum, the 
reference pirce for common wheat and the single 
intervention price for durum wheat shall be 
reduced by 1 % for the following marketing year 
for: 
— each 50 000 tonnes in excess, up to a maximum 
of 5 % in the case of durum wheat, 
— each million tonnes in excess up to a maximum 
of 5 % in the case of the other cereals. 
Each year, when prices are fixed, the extent to 
which the reduction provided for in the preceding 
subparagraph should affect the target prices 
provided for in Article 3 (1) shall be decided 
according to the procedure laid down in Article 43 
(2) of the Treaty. 
If, however, imports by the Community of the 
products listed in Annex D exceed 15 million 
tonnes in the marketing year preceding the fixing 
of the guarantee threshold, the difference between 
the volume of these imports and 15 million tonnes 
shall be added to the guarantee threshold fixed for 
cereals other than durum wheat.' 5. Article 5 (1) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'1. In respect of common wheat, durum wheat, 
barley, maize, rye, and sorghum, a threshold price 
shall be fixed for the Community in such a way 
that the selling price for the imported product on 
the Duisburg market shall be the same as the 
target price, differences in quality being taken into 
account. The threshold price shall be fixed for the 
same standard quality as the target price.' 
6. Article 7 (1) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'1. Throughout the marketing year, the 
intervention agencies designated by the Member 
States shall be obliged to buy in cereals mentioned 
in the first indent of Article 3(1) which have been 
harvested in the Community and are offered to 
them, provided that the offers comply with 
conditions, in particular in respect of quality and 
quantity to be determined in accordance with 
paragraph 5.' 
7. The first indent of Article 7 (5) is hereby replaced 
by the following: 
'— the minimum quality and quantity required of 
each cereal for it to be eligible for 
intervention.' 
8. Article 8 (2) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'2. Where necessitated by the situation on the 
Community market in common wheat of bread-
making quality or durum wheat, special 
intervention measures may be adopted in respect 
of these cereals with a view to supporting the 
development of the market therein in relation to 
the reference price in the case of common wheat 
or the single intervention price in the case of 
durum wheat, as referred to in Article 3(1). 
In the case of common wheat of bread-making 
quality these measures may apply to qualities other 
than that for which the reference price has been 
fixed.' 
9. Article 8 (4) is hereby replaced by the following: 
'4. The nature and application of particular or 
special intervention measures and the conditions 
and procedures for the sale or for any other means 
of disposal of the products subject to these 
measures shall be determined in accordance with 
the procedure laid down in Article 26. 
Detailed rules for the application of the Article 
and the technical qualities required of durum 
wheat shall be laid down in accordance with the 
same procedure.' 
No C 298/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.11.83 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of 
its publication in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. 
It shall apply: — from 1 July 1984 in respect of durum wheat, 
— from 1 August 1984 in respect of the other 
cereals. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States.