Commission Regulation (EC) No 385/2001 of 26 February 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 in the raw tobacco sector as regards the moisture content allowed on delivery of certain varieties of tobacco and the recognised production areas

Commission Regulation (EC) No 385/2001
of 26 February 2001
amending Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 in the raw tobacco sector as regards the moisture content allowed on delivery of certain varieties of tobacco and the recognised production areas
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1336/2000(2), and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The first subparagraph of Article 15(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 as regards the premium scheme, production quotas and the specific aid to be granted to producer groups in the raw tobacco sector(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1249/2000(4), lays down that the fixed part of the premium and the quantity to be set off against the production quota statement are to be calculated on the basis of the weight of leaf tobacco. The second subparagraph of that Article lays down that the weight is to be adjusted on the basis of the moisture content laid down in Annex IV for the variety concerned up to a maximum of 4 %. Certain varieties of tobacco in groups II and III, cured by traditional air-drying methods in traditional dryers, are produced in regions which can have high levels of precipitation during the delivery period. Under these circumstances it is difficult to monitor the moisture content in traditional air-cured tobacco on delivery. The maximum moisture content for those varieties of tobacco should therefore be amended.
(2) Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 lays down that the production areas referred to in Article 5(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 are as laid down in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2848/98. Portugal has asked the Commission to include the region of Beiras in the list of traditional recognised production areas for the production of tobaccos in group I. Beiras is a recognised traditional production area for varieties in group II. Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 should therefore be amended to included this region as a recognised production area for group I.
(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Tobacco,