Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1325/86 of 5 May 1986 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter

COMMISSION  REGULATION (EEC) No 1325/86
of 5 May 1986
amending Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85 (2), and in particular Article 6 (7) thereof,
Whereas Commission Regulation No 3143/85 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 715/86 (4), made provision for the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter;
Whereas Article 2 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 lays down, in particular, that the contract of sale of the reduced-price butter should name the establishment where the concentrated butter will be packaged for marketing; whereas experience has shown that operators are having difficulties in fulfilling this contractual obligation; whereas this provision introduces a degree of inflexibility that is not essential for the purposes of the controls provided for; whereas it should therefore be relaxed;
Whereas Article 4 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 sets the time limit for the processing of the butter into concentrated butter and for the packaging of the concentrated butter; whereas the recent unfavourable trend in sales of concentrated butter means that operators are no longer able to meet the time limit laid down without running a considerable commercial risk related to the latest permitted date of use indicated on the packaging of the concentrated butter under national rules; whereas this economic situation is likely to compromise the future of the system; whereas the time limit as fixed should be waived temporarily;
Whereas Article 5 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 lays down that the packs should have a maximum net content of three kilograms; whereas, in the light of the experience gained and, in particular, of demand by restaurants and community establishments, the maximum net content should be increased to 10 kilograms;
Whereas Article 5 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 lays down that nitrogen gas may be added to concentrated butter within certain limits; whereas experience has shown that the permitted increase in volume that results from the treatment referred to in the said Article should be increased for concentrated butter with a minimum butterfat content of 99,8 % whereas, moreover, it seems desirable to relax the provision referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5 (4) concerning the sealing of the packs;
Whereas the provisions of this Regulation are to the benefit of operators and should, therefore, be applicable to current contracts;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,