Regulation (EEC) No 985/68 of the Council of 15 July 1968 laying down general rules for intervention on the market in butter and cream

REGULATION (EEC) No 985/68 OF THE COUNCIL  of 15 July 1968  laying down general rules for intervention on the market in butter and cream
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 1 of 27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products, and in particular Article 6 (6) thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 provides for Community intervention measures on the market in butter and cream;
Whereas the Council must lay down general rules for intervention measures relating to public storage, aid for private storage and the disposal of stored butter;
Whereas maintenance of the quality of butter is crucial for the competitive position of that product on the market ; whereas the intervention policy must take account of that fact and enable stocks to be held on the most effective basis possible;
Whereas butter standards must therefore be determined ; whereas such standards must in particular ensure that butter is suitable for storage under satisfactory conditions ; whereas for these reasons, as from the date of application of the provisions adopted pursuant to Article 27 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, only butter manufactured by approved undertakings should qualify for intervention ; whereas transitional provisions relating to qualities of butter, applicable up to that date, must therefore be adopted;
Whereas it is for the intervention agency to ensure that storage processes allow the butter to be kept in good condition ; whereas, to this end, criteria should be laid down for designating the cold storage depot for the butter;
Whereas intervention arrangements must take account of the development of the market situation ; whereas intervention should be possible throughout the milk year ; whereas, however, there should be provision for ceasing to buy in when the situation so allows;
Whereas, from a technical point of view, adoption of the free-at-cold-storage-depot price for intervention simplifies the implementation of intervention measures by public agencies ; whereas, when the distance between the cold storage depot and the place from which the butter is despatched exceeds certain limits, the additional transport costs should be borne by the intervention agency;
Whereas disposal of butter held by intervention agencies should, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, take place in such a way as to ensure equal access to the products for sale and equal treatment of purchasers ; whereas in general the tendering procedure serves this end ; whereas where some other form of sale has to be adopted, equivalent conditions must be provided ; whereas provision should be made for taking into account special conditions which may arise when the product is to be exported;
Whereas aid for the private storage of butter and cream provided for in Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 should be granted in accordance with Community provisions laying down in particular the precise conditions for granting such aid ; whereas to ensure uniformity in the Community provisions should be made for a Community form of storage contract and a uniform method of calculating the amount of aid according to the cost of storage and market developments;
Whereas private storage must contribute to the attainment of a balanced market ; whereas Community rules should be provided to ensure the orderly function of this form of storage;  1OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13.