Commission Regulation (EC) No 1442/2003 of 13 August 2003 opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of long-grain B rice from the 1999 harvest held by the Spanish intervention agency

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1442/2003
of 13 August 2003
opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of long-grain B rice from the 1999 harvest held by the Spanish intervention agency
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 411/2002(2), and in particular Article 8(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 75/91(3) provides, among other things, that paddy rice held by intervention agencies is to be sold by tendering procedure at prices preventing market disturbance.
(2) Spain still has intervention stocks of long-grain paddy rice B from the 1999 harvest whose quality is in danger of deteriorating as a result of prolonged storage.
(3) In the present production situation where concessions for rice imports are being granted under international agreements and restrictions are being applied to subsidised exports, disposing of this rice on traditional markets inside the Community would inevitably result in an equivalent quantity being placed in intervention, which must be avoided.
(4) This rice can be disposed of by processing it into broken rice or into a form suitable for use in animal feed, on certain conditions.
(5) In order to ensure that the rice really is processed, the procedure should be specially monitored and the successful tenderer should provide a security, to be released on conditions to be laid down.
(6) The undertakings given by tenderers must be regarded as primary requirements within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 of 22 July 1985 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1932/1999(5).
(7) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92(6), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 770/96(7), lays down common detailed rules for verifying the use of products from intervention. Procedures should also be laid down to ensure the traceability of the products used for animal feed.
(8) So that the quantities awarded can be managed accurately, an allocation coefficient should be fixed for tenders offering the minimum selling price, while allowing tenderers to specify a minimum quantity awarded below which they do not wish their tender to stand.
(9) When the Spanish intervention agency notifies the Commission, the tenderers should remain anonymous.
(10) While respecting the tenderers' anonymity, they should be identified by numbers so that it is evident which have submitted several tenders and what prices they have offered.
(11) For control purposes, tenders must be traceable by their reference numbers, while safeguarding anonymity.
(12) With a view to modernising management, the information required by the Commission should be sent by electronic mail.
(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,