Commission Regulation (EC) No 829/2008 of 21 August 2008 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards date for sowings of rice in 2008 in the Italian region of Piemonte

22.8.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 224/3
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 829/2008
of 21 August 2008
derogating from Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards date for sowings of rice in 2008 in the Italian region of Piemonte
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) No 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001 (1), and in particular Article 145(c) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 of 29 October 2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the support schemes provided for in Titles IV and IVa of that Regulation and the use of land set aside for the production of raw materials (2) provides that, to be eligible for the crop-specific payment for rice, the declared area must be sown on 31 May preceding the harvest in question at the latest in all producing regions except for Spain, Portugal and French Guyana which are allowed to sow until 30 June.
(2) Continuous and strong flood rainfalls have affected the Italian region of Piemonte as from mid May 2008. These adverse weather conditions prevented farmers to respect the date for sowing of rice at the latest on 31 May 2008.
(3) It is therefore appropriate to derogate from Article 12(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 and authorise farmers to sow rice in the declared areas located in the Italian Region of Piemonte at the latest on 30 June 2008.
(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Direct Payments,