Commission Regulation (EC) No 2522/97 of 16 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 laying down quality standards for tomatoes

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2522/97 of 16 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 laying down quality standards for tomatoes
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof,
Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2448/95 of 10 October 1995 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (2) lays down new CN codes; whereas the description of tomatoes as defined in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 of 30 March 1983 laying down quality standards for tomatoes (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 888/97(4), should therefore be updated;
Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 918/94 of 26 April 1994 derogating from Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 laying down quality standards for tomatoes, as regards tomatoes attached to the stalk (trusses of tomatoes) (5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2250/96 (6), lays down provisions permitting trusses of tomatoes in the 'Extra` Class and Class I to be marketed for a limited trial period; whereas trade in such tomatoes has become economically important; whereas, for the sake of simplification, those provisions should be incorporated definitively in Regulation (EEC) No 778/83; whereas, furthermore, in order to take account of existing practice and of the standards recommended by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development, the marketing of such tomatoes in Class II should be authorized; whereas Regulation (EC) No 918/94 should therefore be repealed;
Whereas, in order to facilitate trade in tomatoes, the Community standards should be supplemented as regards sizing and marking in accordance with the international standard recommended by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fruit and Vegetables,