CELEX: 51996PC0596
Language: en
Date: 1996-11-21
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey

Avis juridique important

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51996PC0596

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey  /* COM/96/0596 FINAL - CNS 96/0282 */  

Official Journal C 378 , 13/12/1996 P. 0020

Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) laying down general rules for  the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (96/C  378/09) COM(96)  596 final - 96/0282(CNS)(Submitted by the Commission on 21 November 1996) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 42 and  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 Commission has sent to the Council and the European Parliament a discussion paper on  European beekeeping  (1) in which the situation and the difficulties of this sector have been  explained; Whereas beekeeping is a sector of agriculture, the main functions of which are economic activity  and rural development, the production of honey and other products of the hive and the maintenance  of ecological balance; Whereas the sector is marked by diversity of production conditions and yields and by the dispersion  and variety of producers and traders; whereas there is an imbalance between supply and demand on  the Community market for honey; Whereas, in view of the spread of varroasis in several Member States in recent years and the  resulting problems for honey production, action by the Community is necessary; Whereas, given these circumstances and in order to improve the production and marketing of honey in  the Community, national programmes should be established without delay for each year comprising  technical assistance, measures to control varroasis and related diseases, a rationalization of  transhumance, the management of regional beekeeping centres and cooperation on research programmes  to improve the quality of honey; Whereas, in order to supplement the statistical data available, Member States should carry out  studies on the structure of the sector, covering production, marketing and price formation; Whereas expenditure by the Member States in fulfilment of the obligations arising from this  Regulation should be borne by the Community pursuant to Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No  729/70 of 21 April 1970, on the financing of the common agricultural policy  (1), as last amended  by Regulation (EC) No 1287/95  (2); Whereas a financial reference amount, within the meaning of point 2 of the declaration by the  European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, is included in this  Regulation, without affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as defined in the Treaty, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1.  This Regulation lays down measures for improving general  conditions for the production and marketing of natural honey. These measures shall be included in  national programmes for each year. 2.  The measures shall be: (a) technical assistance to members of beekeepers' associations and honey houses with a view to  improving the conditions for the production and extraction of honey; (b) the control of varroasis and related diseases; improvement of the conditions for the treatment  of hives and the harvesting, storage and packaging of honey; (c) rationalization of transhumance; (d) measures to support laboratories carrying out analyses on the physicochemical properties of  honey; (e) cooperation with specialized bodies for the implementation of applied research programmes to  improve the quality of honey. Article 2 In order to be eligible for the part-financing provided for in Article 3, Member States  shall carry out a study of the production and marketing structures in the beekeeping sector in  their territory by 1 July 1997. Article 3 Expenditure incurred in accordance with this Regulation shall be considered as  expenditure within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70. The Community shall provide part-financing for the national programmes equivalent to 50  % of the  expenditure borne by Member States. The financial reference amount for implementing this Regulation shall be ECU 15 million per year. The annual appropriations shall be authorized by the budgetary authority within the limit of the  financial perspective. In order to be eligible for part-financing, expenditure by the Member States on the programmes  referred to in Article 1 (1) must be made by 15 October each year. Article 4 The programmes referred to in Article 1 (1) shall be drawn up in close collaboration  with the representative professional beekeepers' organizations. Programmes shall be forwarded to  the Commission, which shall approve them in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17  of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market  in eggs  (3). Measures contained in operational programmes for Objective 1, 5b and 6 regions shall be excluded  from these programmes. Article 5 Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation, in particular those relating to  monitoring, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation  (EEC) No 2771/75. Article 6 The Commission shall present to the Council every three years a report on the  application of this Regulation, initially by (1 July 2000) at the latest. Article 7 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its  publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all  Member States. (1) COM(94) 256 final.  (1) OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970, p. 13.  (2) OJ No L 125, 8. 6. 1995, p. 1.  (3) OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 49, Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1516/96 (OJ No L  189, 30. 7. 1996, p. 1).