Commission Regulation (EC) No 23/98 of 7 January 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 689/92 fixing the procedure and conditions for the taking over of cereals by intervention agencies

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 23/98 of 7 January 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 689/92 fixing the procedure and conditions for the taking over of cereals by intervention agencies
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals (1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 923/96 (2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2731/75 of 29 October 1975 fixing standard qualities for common wheat, rye, barley, maize, sorghum and durum wheat (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2594/97 (4), and in particular Article 6 (a) thereof,
Whereas, in view of their climatic conditions, the growing period for barley varieties predominantly produced in Finland and Sweden is much shorter; whereas the kernel size of six-row barley varieties is under 2,2 mm in those two countries; whereas the barley therefore does not meet the intervention requirements regarding kernel size; whereas the immediate application of the Community rules is accordingly likely to exclude considerable quantities of Finnish and Swedish barley from buying in, thereby provoking severe difficulties for producers in the two countries; whereas Finland and Sweden should accordingly be authorised temporarily to buy in barley of a kernel size of under 2,2 mm; whereas the acceptance of a lower kernel size should not lead to barley of inferior quality being bought in; whereas the barley in question should accordingly have a specific weight of at least 64 kg/hl;
Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 689/92 (5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2507/97 (6), lays down the conditions for the taking over of cereals for intervention and must accordingly be amended;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,