Council Regulation (EC) No 1420/98 of 26 June 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 619/71 laying down general rules for granting aid for flax and hemp

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1420/98 of 26 June 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 619/71 laying down general rules for granting aid for flax and hemp
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1308/70 of 29 June 1970 on the common organisation of the market in flax and hemp (1), and in particular Article 4(4) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) or Regulation (EEC) No 1308/70 stipulates that aid is granted only for hemp grown from seed of varieties providing certain safeguards to be determined in respect of the content of intoxicating substances in the harvested product; whereas Article 3(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 619/71 (2) lays down a maximum limit for the average content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to determine the varieties of seeds which may be accepted; whereas in order to strengthen the measures ensuring that land eligible for production aid may not be used for illegal cultivation the maximum limit currently laid down should be reduced; whereas, for the same purpose, the grant of aid should be made conditional upon harvesting after seed formation;
Whereas Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 619/71 lays down, for the grant of aid for fibre flax, a system of compulsory contracts between producers and primary processors containing a processing undertaking; whereas a similar system of compulsory contracts should be introduced in the hemp sector so as to improve control of the final use of the crop and to guarantee that the crop is actually processed; whereas provision should also be made for the case where the producer processes the hemp into straw or has it processed on this behalf by a processor;
Whereas Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 619/71 provides for a system of administrative supervision guaranteeing that the product of which aid has been requested qualifies for that aid; whereas provision should be made for the possibility of strengthening that supervision system in the hemp sector by a system of prior authorisation for sowing;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation must be implemented under the best possible conditions; whereas, therefore, transitional measures may be needed to facilitate the changeover to the new system,