Council Regulation (EC) No 1588/96 of 30 July 1996 amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal, with regard to the marketing year and the deseasonalization premium

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1588/96 of 30 July 1996 amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal, with regard to the marketing year and the deseasonalization premium
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 (4) sets the beginning of the marketing year as the first Monday in April; whereas experience has shown that it would be preferable for the marketing year to commence on 1 July of each year and end on 30 June of the following year;
Whereas, in accordance with Articles 4c (3) and 4k (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal, the Commission has prepared a report for the Council on the situation in the beef and veal sector and in particular on the operation of certain measures introduced by the new premium arrangements instituted by the reform; whereas, on the basis of the findings of the report, the Regulation should be amended accordingly;
Whereas, as a result of the deseasonalization premium referred to in Article 4c of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68, the number of castrated male bovine animals slaughtered outside the annual 'off-grass` period has risen appreciably; whereas, on account of their environmental conditions and structure of production, Ireland, and to a lesser extent Northern Ireland, are the regions most affected by the seasonal nature of slaughtering and whereas, because of this, the fact that the premium is granted in one part of the island of Ireland and not in another is disturbing their markets and can lead to exchanges of animals which are undesirable on health grounds; whereas, therefore, where the triggering threshold required for granting the premium is exceeded in Ireland or in Northern Ireland, the premium shall apply in Ireland or in Northern Ireland; whereas, however, where the threshold is not reached, it should be possible for Member States affected by seasonalization to continue to grant the premium, to be borne in such case, however, by their own production sector by means of a simultaneous reduction in the amount envisaged for the second tranche of the special premium; whereas, lastly, it can be inferred from the present Regulation that in order to qualify for the premium an animal must be slaughtered in the year following that in which the special premium is granted; whereas, since this is undesirable, the reference to the following year should be deleted; whereas it seems appropriate to maintain the deseasonalization premium and to improve certain aspects of it,