Council Directive 76/625/EEC of 20 July 1976 concerning the statistical surveys to be carried out by the Member States in order to determine the production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 20 July 1976  concerning the statistical surveys to be carried out by the Member States in order to determine the production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees  (76/625/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Whereas the Commission, in order to perform the task conferred upon it by the Treaty and by Community provisions governing the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables, needs to be kept well informed on the production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees within the Community and to have available medium-term estimates of production and supply on the markets;
Whereas surveys of fruit tree plantations are currently carried out only by some Member States ; whereas these surveys do not permit the precise, uniform and synchronized observation of the production and supply of fruit on the markets ; whereas a medium-term estimate of production and supply on the markets is at present made only by some Member States;
Whereas it is therefore advisable to carry out surveys concurrently in all Member States on plantations of fruit trees of the same species in accordance with the same criteria and with comparable accuracy ; whereas new plantations attain their full yield only after a certain number of years ; whereas these surveys should therefore be repeated every five years ; whereas in this way reliable statistics may be obtained on production potential taking account of the fruit trees which are not yet productive;
Whereas, in theory, surveys should be limited to undertakings in which a minimum area of 1 500 square metres is planted with apple, pear, peach or orange trees, with a view to fruit production for sale ; whereas orchards of less than 1 500 square metres in area may be disregarded because of their negligible influence on market supply;
Whereas uniform surveys should be carried out in each Member State on the main varieties of each species of fruit, endeavouring at the same time to establish subdivisions according to variety which are as complete as necessary;
Whereas, since the annual calculations of production potential must be based on the results of these surveys, indications as to the age of trees and the density of plantation should also be obtained ; whereas these results must be notified to the Commission as rapidly as possible;
Whereas the preparation of medium-term estimates requires that each year Member States should estimate and notify the Commission of the area of fruit trees which has been cleared ; whereas the Commission should also be sent details every year of new plantations of fruit trees of the abovementioned species;  (1)OJ No C 159, 12.7.1976, p. 40.
Whereas, in any Member State where, since the last survey on fruit tree plantations, exceptionally extensive clearing has been noted, special and more detailed surveys should be carried out on the volume of clearing and the results thereof notified to the Commission;
Whereas consideration should also be given to statistics resulting from the application of certain Community measures for reorganizing Community fruit production;
Whereas the Commission must submit reports so that the Council may examine to what extent the surveys and estimates carried out enable the objective of this Directive to be achieved and must suggest, where appropriate, that methods should be aligned;
Whereas the previous surveys carried out between 1969 and 1974 by the six original Member States in compliance with Directive 71/286/EEC (1) were not synchronized ; whereas surveys of fruit tree plantations have not been carried out in a uniform manner or at all by the three new Member States;
Whereas the experience acquired in previous surveys of fruit tree plantations has shown that it is necessary to introduce a certain flexibility into the statistical classification of the technical characteristics to be surveyed;
Whereas it is necessary to ensure that when this Directive is applied cooperation between Member States and the Commission will be as effective as possible ; whereas the detailed rules for the application of the Directive must be adopted after an opinion has been given by the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics set up by Decision 72/279/EEC (2);
Whereas the procedure to be followed by the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics should be laid down;
Whereas the financial responsibility of the Community should be defined with regard to expenditure incurred by the Member States for the first survey provided for by this Directive,