Council Regulation (EC) No 415/96 of 4 March 1996 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco, and fixing the guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by group of tobacco varieties for the 1996 and 1997 harvests

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 415/96 of 4 March 1996 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco, and fixing the guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by group of tobacco varieties for the 1996 and 1997 harvests
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco (1), and in particular Article 8, second subparagraph, and Article 9 (2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (4),
Whereas the second subparagraph of Article 8 and Article 9 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 provide for the annual allocation among producer Member States of guarantee thresholds for each group of varieties; whereas the level of those thresholds should be fixed for the 1996 and 1997 harvests taking particular account of market conditions and socio-economic and agronomic conditions in the production areas concerned; whereas such fixing should be effected in good time in order to allow producers to plan their production for the above harvests;
Whereas, for certain groups of varieties, guarantee threshold quantities may remain available after allocation in accordance with Article 9 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 is completed; whereas, on the other hand, guarantee threshold quantities for other groups of varieties may not be sufficient to cover market demand; whereas, therefore, provision should be made for Member States to transfer quantities from the guarantee threshold for one group of varieties to other groups of varieties, while ensuring that an increase in the guarantee threshold for one group of varieties as a result of the transfer does not generate additional expenditure for the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF); whereas Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 should therefore be amended,