Commission Regulation (EC) No 59/97 of 16 January 1997 concerning aid for the processing of sugar cane into sucrose syrup or agricultural rum in the French overseas departments and amending Regulation (EEC) No 1713/93

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 59/97 of 16 January 1997 concerning aid for the processing of sugar cane into sucrose syrup or agricultural rum in the French overseas departments and amending Regulation (EEC) No 1713/93
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the French overseas departments (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (2), and in particular Article 19 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3813/92 of 28 December 1992 on the unit of account and the conversion rates to be applied for the purposes of the common agricultural policy (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 150/95 (4), and in particular Articles 3 (3), 6 (2) and 12 thereof,
Whereas Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 provides for the granting of Community aid for the processing of sugar cane into sugar syrup, hereinafter called 'sucrose syrup`, or into agricultural rum as defined in Article 1 (4) (a) (2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (5), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden; whereas this aid is paid on condition that the sugar cane producer is paid a minimum price to be determined and up to the limit of an overall quantity corresponding to the average quantity of agricultural rum sold during the three marketing years 1987/88, 1988/89 and 1989/90 and of a maximum annual quantity of 250 tonnes of sucrose syrup;
Whereas the second paragraph of Article 19 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 provides that when the relevant detailed rules of application are adopted account will be taken in particular of the production objectives within the context of the arrangements applicable to sugar and of the supply requirements of the French overseas departments;
Whereas a minimum price for sugar cane should be laid down which takes into account the reference price for sugar cane intended for the production of sugar applicable in the department in question and provision should also be made for a system to reduce, where appropriate, the quantities of rum or sucrose syrup eligible for aid so as to ensure that the overall quantity limit laid down by Article 18 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 is observed; whereas a regular review of the situation, particularly as regards the trend in sugar prices, should be provided for; whereas sucrose syrup, which is not a sugar product within the meaning of Articles 26 to 29 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 (6), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1599/96 (7), should be defined;
Whereas provisions should be laid down in respect of aid unduly paid out;
Whereas Regulation (EC) No 2598/95, amending Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, entered into force at the end of October 1995;
Whereas, now that the aid scheme is being extended to production of sucrose syrup, Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1488/92 (8), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 260/96 (9), setting out rules for its application should for clarity be repealed and replaced by the present Regulation; whereas it is also necessary to amend Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1713/93 (10), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2926/94 (11);
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,