Commission Regulation (EC) No 19/98 of 7 January 1998 suspending the sale of butter from public stocks pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter and the granting of aid pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 429/90 on the granting by invitation to tender of an aid for concentrated butter intended for direct consumption in the Community

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 19/98 of 7 January 1998 suspending the sale of butter from public stocks pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter and the granting of aid pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 429/90 on the granting by invitation to tender of an aid for concentrated butter intended for direct consumption in the Community
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1587/96 (2), and in particular Articles 6 (6) and 7a (3) thereof,
Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1802/95 (4), provides for the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter intended for direct consumption in the form of concentrated butter in the Community; whereas those arrangements are to continue to apply as long as the quantities of butter in public storage so allow; whereas, given the current level of butter in intervention stocks and the need to maintain sales of such butter for other purposes, sales pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 should be suspended; whereas the notice of expiry referred to in Article 1 (2) of that Regulation was issued on 1 July 1989;
Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 429/90 (5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1802/95, provides for the granting by invitation to tender of aid for concentrated butter made from butter or cream from the market and intended for direct consumption in the Community; whereas those arrangements were introduced to supplement and continue the measure provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85; whereas, in view of the situation on the market for butter, where butter production and stocks are currently lower, the aid scheme provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 429/90 should be suspended;
Whereas the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,