Commission Regulation (EEC) No 133/88 of 19 January 1988 laying down protective measures on imports of hybrid maize for use as seed

COMMISSION  REGULATION (EEC) No 133/88
of 19 January 1988
laying down protective measures on imports of hybrid maize for use as seed
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 of 26 October 1971 on the common organization of the market in seeds (1), and in particular Article 7 (2) thereof,
Whereas, on 12 January 1988, the French Republic submitted to the Commission a request for the application of protective measures to imports into the Community of hybrid maize for use as seed; whereas the Commission has requested additional information regarding the type of measures desired by the French Government; whereas the reply to that question reached the Commission on 18 January and stated that a suitable measure should involve a measure suspending all imports of hybrid maize for use as seed under the so-called 'open market' system and the immediate convening of a working group with the task of determining the measures to be taken in forthcoming marketing years to enable the Community system for producing maize seed to be maintained;
Whereas the latter part of the French request comes within the normal management of the sector and therefore, irrespective of its validity, does not require immediate action in the way of protective measures;
Whereas, on the other hand, the data provided by the French authorities relating to the market situation for hybrid maize for use as seed show that Community production in the 1987/88 marketing year has fallen substantially after years of constant increase; whereas at the same time the quantities imported under contracts or freely have also increased substantially;
Whereas, therefore, while the trend in imports is in line with the trend in Community production, the Community market does not appear to be suffering from an imbalance; whereas, while imports in forthcoming months remain at the level reached last marketing year, the result for Community production in 1988/89 is a situation which is liable to jeopardize the objectives of Article 39 of the Treaty, particularly when it is considered that there appear to be substantial stocks of hybrid maize for use as seed on the Community market;
Whereas, according to information available, imports should be maintained at the level of the previous year, which could have a long-lasting effect on Community production; whereas, under those conditions, the Community market is liable to be seriously disturbed owing to such imports; whereas, as a consequence, imports should be made subject to a surveillance system enabling the Commission to intervene at all times by virtue of its market management responsibilities;
Whereas the most suitable measure in this respect involves introducing a period of time for reflection between the date of the lodging of the application for an import licence and its issue in order to enable, where necessary, the Commission to take the measures required in the interim,