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( 1 ) OJ NO L 73 , 21 . 3 . 1977 , P . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ NO L 118 , 30 . 4 . 1981 , P . 10 .

( 3 ) OJ NO L 179 , 1 . 7 . 1978 , P . 21 .

( 4 ) OJ NO L 183 , 11 . 7 . 1981 , P . 28 .

COMMISSION REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 2096/81

OF 23 JULY 1981

AMENDING REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1530/78 LAYING DOWN RULES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE SYSTEM OF AID IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS PROCESSED FROM FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES ,

HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ,

HAVING REGARD TO COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 516/77 OF 14 MARCH 1977 ON THE COMMON ORGANIZATION OF THE MARKET IN PRODUCTS PROCESSED FROM FRUIT AND VEGETABLES ( 1 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1118/81 ( 2 ), AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 3C THEREOF ,

WHEREAS COMMISSION REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1530/78 ( 3 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1850/81 ( 4 ), PROVIDED FOR CHECKS TO BE MADE BY THE MEMBER STATES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE AID SYSTEM FOR CERTAIN PRODUCTS PROCESSED FROM FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IS PROPERLY APPLIED ;

WHEREAS , IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD MANAGEMENT , IT SHOULD BE STATED THAT THE MEMBER STATES , WITHIN THIS CHECKING SYSTEM , MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AVOID FRAUDULENT OPERATIONS ;

WHEREAS , IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST GUARANTEE OF SUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR PAYING THE MINIMUM PRODUCER PRICE , PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE MEMBER STATES TO ADOPT THE APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS ;

WHEREAS THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR PRODUCTS PROCESSED FROM FRUIT AND VEGETABLES HAS NOT DELIVERED AN OPINION WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT SET BY ITS CHAIRMAN ,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :

ARTICLE 1

REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1530/78 IS HEREBY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS :

1 . THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH 4 IS ADDED TO ARTICLE 4 :

' 4 . THE MEMBER STATES SHALL TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT AND PUNISH FRAUD IN RESPECT OF THE PRODUCTION AID SYSTEM . '

2 . THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE 4A IS INSERTED :

' ARTICLE 4A

MEMBER STATES MAY ADOPT APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF TIME LIMITS AND OTHER CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT OF THE MINIMUM PRICE . '

ARTICLE 2

THIS REGULATION SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON THE 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 .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 23 JULY 1981 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

THE PRESIDENT

GASTON THORN