Council Regulation (EC) No 1581/96 of 30 July 1996 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organization of the market in oils and fats

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1581/96 of 30 July 1996 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organization of the market in oils and fats
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas Regulation No 136/66/EEC (4) lays down in Article 2a that common customs tariff rates are to be applied to products, including olive oil, subject to a common market organization, and in Article 11 that aid for the consumption of olive oil is to be granted only in respect of oil produced in the Community;
Whereas, as a result of the implementation of the agreements concluded under the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the system of variable agricultural levies has been replaced by fixed common customs duties; whereas a feature of the olive oil sector are naturally fluctuating harvests that result in erratic olive oil production in the Community; whereas experience has shown that, to ensure supplies to the market and to prevent significant price fluctuations, the option of allowing imports at a reduced rate of duty should be provided for;
Whereas, in view of the fact that the abovementioned rate of common customs duty takes account of the security lodged earlier for quantities of olive oil released for free circulation, entitlement to the consumption aid in respect of olive oil should not be limited to oil produced in the Community, nor should a difference in the level of production refunds for the manufacture of tinned oil be maintained,