OFFICIEL L 88 OF 20 APRIL 1971 , P . 14 ).
25THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT , IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT MEASURE , DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY AUTHORITIES IN A SINGLE OPERATION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1970 AND OF 1971 VOUCHERS VALID FOR EACH MONTH OF THE WHOLE YEAR , THUS SEEKING TO AVOID THE DISPROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN ITS ALREADY CONSIDERABLE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WHICH WOULD HAVE ACCOMPANIED THE ISSUING OF VOUCHERS VALID FOR SHORTER PERIODS .
THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT NOTIFIED ITS CHOICE OF THIS PROCEDURE TO THE COMMISSION WHICH DID NOT RISE ANY OBJECTIONS .
26THE COMMISSION CLAIMS THAT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT , BY CONTINUING TO PAY AID IN RESPECT OF SALES AFTER 30 APRIL 1971 , OVERSTEPPED THE LIMITS LAID DOWN BY THE PROVISIONS IN QUESTION .
THE GOVERNMENT , FOR ITS PART , CLAIMS THAT THE SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTING VOUCHERS ADOPTED BY IT HAD THE EFFECT OF CREATING , FOR PERSONS HOLDING THOSE VOUCHERS , A LEGAL POSITION WHICH WAS CERTAIN AND WHICH THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT TERMINATE PREMATURELY .
27THE QUESTION ARISES , THEREFORE , WHETHER THE PROVISIONS IN QUESTION MUST BE INTERPRETED AS MEANING THAT THEY PERMITTED THE MEMBER STATES TO ADOPT A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SUCH AS THAT CHOSEN BY THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT .
IT MAY BE NOTED IN THIS RESPECT THAT BOTH REGULATION NO 414/70 AND DECISION 70/228 LEAVE THE MEMBER STATES GREAT FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THE METHODS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEASURE IN QUESTION .
WHILE CERTAIN PROVISIONS SEEK TO PREVENT ABUSES AND TO GUARANTEE THAT THE AID WILL BE GRANTED ONLY FOR DELIVERIES FOR WHICH IT WAS PROVIDED , NO PROVISION IS MADE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF TERMINATING THE AID BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF THE PERIOD DURING WHICH REGULATION NO 414/70 WAS APPLICABLE .
28SINCE DECISION 70/228 REQUIRES THE MEMBER STATES TO USE A SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUAL VOUCHERS FOR DISTRIBUTING THE AID , SINCE THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT ADOPTED SUCH A SYSTEM , IN THE FIRST INSTANCE UNTIL THE END OF 1970 , AND SINCE THE COMMISSION DECISION REMAINED IN FORCE WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENT FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD AFTER THE ENABLING REGULATION WAS EXTENDED TO THE END OF 1971 , IT CANNOT BE SAID THAT THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT , BY MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM INITIALLY ADOPTED WITHOUT MAKING PROVISION FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF TERMINATING THE OPERATION IN THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALSO THE SPECIAL NATURE OF THE MEASURE IN QUESTION , EXCEEDED WHAT IT WAS LAWFULLY ENTITLED TO DO TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMISSION ' S DECISION WITHIN ITS NATIONAL TERRITORY .
THE CONTESTED DECISIONS SHOULD THEREFORE BE ANNULLED IN SO FAR AS THE COMMISSION REFUSED TO CHARGE TO THE EAGGF THE DISPUTED AMOUNTS PAID BY THE APPLICANT GOVERNMENT BY WAY OF AID FOR THE PURCHASE OF BUTTER BY PERSONS IN RECEIPT OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE .
SALE AT REDUCED PRICES OF BUTTER FROM PUBLIC STOCKS FOR EXPORT
29CERTAIN OF THE AMOUNTS WHICH THE COMMISSION REFUSED TO CHARGE TO THE EAGGF CONSTITUTE EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE APPLICANT