Commission Regulation (EC) No 144/2004 of 28 January 2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of wheat held by the French intervention agency

Commission Regulation (EC) No 144/2004
of 28 January 2004
opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of wheat held by the French intervention agency
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), and in particular Article 5 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 of 28 July 1998 laying down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies(2) provides in particular that cereals held by intervention agencies are to be sold by tendering procedure at prices preventing market disturbance.
(2) France still has intervention stocks of wheat.
(3) Because of the difficult weather conditions in much of the Community, cereals production has been significantly reduced in the 2003/04 marketing year. This situation has resulted in high prices locally, causing particular difficulties for livestock holdings and the feedingstuffs industry, which are finding it hard to obtain supplies at competitive prices.
(4) It is therefore appropriate to make stocks of wheat held by the French intervention agency available on the internal market.
(5) To take account of the situation on the Community market, provision should be made for the Commission to manage this invitation to tender.
(6) When the French intervention agency notifies the Commission, the tenderers should remain anonymous.
(7) With a view to modernising management, the information required by the Commission should be sent by electronic mail.
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,