Commission Regulation (EC) No 216/2004 of 6 February 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 1766/92 and (EEC) No 1418/76 concerning production refunds in the cereals and rice sectors respectively

Commission Regulation (EC) No 216/2004
of 6 February 2004
amending Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 1766/92 and (EEC) No 1418/76 concerning production refunds in the cereals and rice sectors respectively
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 7(3) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice(2), and in particular Article 8(e) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93(3) stipulates how the refund is to be calculated. The market situation for potato starch, being particularly influenced by the minimum price for potatoes, can differ from that for cereal starch. It should therefore be possible to set a different refund for potato starch.
(2) Applications for refund certificates can be lodged each working day before 3 p.m. Brussels time. As this time limit may fall after commencement of a meeting of the Management Committee for Cereals at which refund rates are being decided there is a risk of speculative applications. The time limit should therefore be brought forward.
(3) Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 stipulates that production refund certificates are valid until the last day of the fifth month following that of issue. This carries a risk that certificates will be issued for over-large volumes; since the Commission can neither reject certificate applications in the event of speculation nor set a different refund rate without consulting the Management Committee for Cereals, the validity of licences should be shortened to end on the last day of the third month following that of issue.
(4) The Commission does not have detailed information on the quantities on which production refunds have been granted until three months after the end of each quarter of the calendar year. To make a better picture of the situation Member States should notify monthly the quantities of starch for which certificate applications have been made.
(5) Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 should be amended accordingly.
(6) The Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,