COMMISSION REGULATION  (EEC) No 248/93 of 4 February 1993 on the free distribution in Saint Petersburg (Russia) of apples  withdrawn from the market
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3196/92 of 27 October 1992 on the free distribution  outside the Community of fruit and vegetables withdrawn from the market  (1), and in particular the  second paragraph of Article 2 thereof,
Whereas the Community apple harvest in the 1992/1993 marketing year is particularly abundant;  whereas major quantities were therefore withdrawn from the market pursuant to Council Regulation  (EEC) No 1035/72 of 18 May 1972 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables   (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1754/92  (3);
Whereas, on account of the serious difficulties of supply to which the city of Saint Petersburg  (Russia) is currently subject, apples withdrawn from the market should be made available to the  competent local authorities with a view to their free distribution in that city;
Whereas, in the case of the free distribution of apples withdrawn from the market, the costs of  sorting, packing and transport costs may be taken over pursuant to Commission Regulation (EEC) No  2103/90 of 23 July 1990 laying down the conditions for taking over sorting and packing costs  relating to the free distribution of apples and citrus fruit  (4), Commission Regulation (EEC) No  3587/86 of 20 November 1986 fixing the conversion factors to be applied to the buying-in prices for  fruit and vegetables  (5), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3463/92  (6), and Commission  Regulation (EEC) No 2276/92 of 4 August 1992 laying down detailed rules for the application of  Article 21 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 on the common organization of the market in fruit  and vegetables  (7);
Whereas outside the territory of the Member States the costs of transport of the products concerned  are defrayed by the charitable organizations undertaking the operations in question;
Whereas the Commission should be informed concerning such apple distribution operations;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the  Management Committee for Fruit and Vegetables,
As provided for in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 3196/92, dessert  apples of Community origin withdrawn from the market in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72  may, during the 1992/93 marketing year, be made available to charitable organizations approved by  the Member States pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 2103/90 with a view to their free  distribution to the population of the city of Saint Petersburg (Russia).
The provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 2103/90, of Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No  3587/86 and of Regulation (EEC) No 2276/92 shall apply, within the territory of the Member States,  to the free distribution operations referred to in Article 1.
The Member States shall obtain assurances from the approved charitable organizations  that the products are transferred free of charge to agencies or bodies with a view to their  distribution to the intended recipients.
The Member States shall inform the Commission, by 30 June 1993 at the latest, of the  quantities distributed pursuant to this Regulation.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in  the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all  Member States.