Commission Regulation (EC) No 1070/2000 of 19 May 2000 laying down detailed rules governing the grant of private storage aid for Kefalotyri and Kasseri cheeses

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1070/2000
of 19 May 2000
laying down detailed rules governing the grant of private storage aid for Kefalotyri and Kasseri cheeses
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products(1), and in particular Article 10 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 permits the granting of private storage aid for sheep's milk cheeses requiring at least six months for maturing where a serious market imbalance could be eliminated or reduced by seasonal storage.
(2) The seasonal nature of Kefalotyri and Kasseri cheese production results in the building up of stocks which are difficult to sell and which risk causing a lowering of prices. Seasonal storage should therefore be introduced for the quantities to improve the situation and allow producers time to find outlets for their cheese.
(3) The detailed rules of this measure should determine the maximum quantity to benefit from it as well as the duration of the contracts in relation to the real requirements of the market and the keeping qualities of the cheeses in question. It is necessary to specify the terms of the storage contract so as to enable the identification of the cheese and to maintain checks on the stock in respect of which aid is granted. The aid should be fixed taking into account storage costs and the foreseeable trend of market prices.
(4) Experience shows that provisions on checks should be laid down, particularly as regards the documents to be submitted and checks to be made on the spot. Therefore, it should be provided that Member States require the costs of checks be fully or partly borne by the contractor.
(5) Article 1(1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1756/93 of 30 June 1993 fixing the operative events for the agricultural conversion rate applicable to milk and milk products(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 569/1999(3), fixes the conversion rate to be applied in the framework of private storage aid schemes in the milk products sector.
(6) It is appropriate to guaranteee the continuation of the storage operations in question.
(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,