COMVIISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(91)263 final 
Brussels, 12 July 1991 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 
on the common organization of the market in hops 
(presented by the Commission) 
I ~Z-
Explanatory Memorandum 
It is proposed that the Council adopt a Regulation amending Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 on the common organization of the market in 
hops. 
The Commission presents this proposal because of the following reasons: 
1. The current definition of 'hop powder with a higher lupulin content' 
as provided in Article 1(3)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 implies 
that all leaves, stalks, bracts and rachides have been removed. This 
has proved to be an inexact definition. In practice there is always a 
considerable portion of these items which remain in the powder. It is 
therefore appropriate to replace the current definition by a more 
exact one. 
2. Article 1(3)(d) does not explicitly provide for that hop extracts may 
be prepared from hop powder. However, in practice, certain types of 
hop extracts are prepared from hop powder and not from hops. Since 
the use of such products is in the interest of the sector, it should 
be permitted to prepare hop extracts from hop powder. 
3. Furthermore, in the case of processed hops, the lack of clear 
instructions with regard to certifiabiIity has been causing legal 
uncertainty in the sector. The current provisions allow for a very 
wide interpretation going as far as, at least theoretically, to the 
certifiabiIity of spent hops, i. e. of a waste product. A clear limit 
should be therefore set out of which a hop product to be certified 
may not falI short. 
4. It has become evident, that some producer groups in the Community do 
not practise common marketing of their members' production as 
required by Article 7(3)(b). In order to provide these groups with a 
wider range of options, they should be able to decide whether they 
want to practise common marketing or not. At the same time, however, 
a financial incentive should be introduced to encourage producer 
groups to commit themselves to common marketing. Therefore, the 
Council should be able to fix an reduced amount of aid to producers 
in the case of growers who do not belong to producer groups pursuing 
an effective marketing system. 
This proposal has no financial impact on the EAGGF. 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No /91 
of 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 
on the common organization of the market in hops 
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 Par Iiament<1 ), 
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
(2) 
Whereas Article 1(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 on the 
common organization of the market in hops*3), as last amended 
by Regulation (EEC) No 3577/90(4), defines the products which 
are subject to the market organization; whereas Article 2 of 
this Regulation addresses the circumstances under which hops 
and hop products may be certified; 
Whereas since the establishment of the common organization of 
the market in hops trade in hop products has become more and 
more important; whereas it appears necessary to define in 
greater detail the terms "hop powder with higher lupulin content" 
and "extract of hops" as well as the characteristics of hop 
products which may be put into free circulation; 
(1) 
(2) 
(3) OJ No L 175, 4.8.1971, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 353, 17.12.1990, p. 23 
-/, i 
Whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 provides the 
rules producer groups must respect in order to be recognized, 
whereas it has become evident that several recognized producer 
groups in the Community have experienced great difficulties in 
practising common marketing of their members' produce; whereas 
recognised producer groups should be able to decide whether they 
want to practise common marketing or not; 
Whereas an incentive should be provided to encourage producer 
groups to market their members' produce in common in order to 
give growers a better position in the market; whereas, for this 
purpose, the amount of aid to producers may be reduced for thOse 
growers who do not belong to producer groups which practise 
common marketing of their members' total production; T 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Arii£iê_l 
Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 is hereby amended as follows: 
1. Article 1(3)(c) is replaced by the following: 
"(c) 'hop powder with higher lupulin content' means the 
product obtained by milling the hops after 
mechanical removal of a part of the leaves, stalks, 
bracts and rachides;" 
2. Article 1(3)(d) is replaced by the following: I 
"(d) 'extract of hops' means the concentrated products 
obtained by the action of a solvent on the hops or 
on the hop powder ;" 
3. The following sentence shall be added to Article 2(2): 
"In the case of the products referred to in Article 1 (3)(b) 
to (e) the certificate may only be issued if the alpha acid 
content of these products is not lower than that of the 
hops they have been prepared from." 
_<r. 
The last subparagraph of Article 7(3)(b) 
by the foIIowi ng: shaI I be rep Iaced 
"It shall be possible for a group or union to authorize its 
members to market all or a part of their produce themselves 
in accordance with rules laid down and supervised by the 
group or union;" 
The following subparagraph shall be added to Article 12(5): 
"(c) The amount of aid to be fixed may be lower In the 
case of those producers who do not belong to a 
recognized producer group which markets all the 
produce of its members as referred to in Article 
7(3)(b). The amount of aid to be fixed in this case 
shall be at least 50% of the amount of aid which is 
fixed for the different groups of hop varieties 
according the provisions of Article 12 (5)(a) and 
(6) of the present Regulation." | 
Ar_iic_iÊ_2. 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 
following its publication in the Official 
Commun i ty. the seventh day 
Journal of the European 
This Regulation shall be binding 
applicable in all Member States. in its entirety and directly 
Done at For the CouncI I 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 263 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-306-EN-C 
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