Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996 on food-aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food security
Modified by
Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97of 17 June 1997on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro, 31997R1103, June 19, 1997
Regulation (EC) No 1726/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 23 July 2001amending Article 21 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 on food-aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food security, 32001R1726, September 1, 2001
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 29 September 2003adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty, 32003R1882, October 31, 2003
Regulation (EC) No 2110/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 14 December 2005on access to Community external assistance, 32005R2110, December 27, 2005
Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 18 December 2006establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation, 32006R1905, December 27, 2006
Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96of 27 June 1996on food-aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food securityTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the CommissionOJ No C 253, 29. 9. 1995, p. 10.,Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the TreatyOpinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 1995 (OJ No C 17, 22. 1. 1996), Council Common Position of 29 January 1996 and decision of the European Parliament of 24 May 1996 (OJ No C 166, 10. 6. 1996).,Whereas now, as ever, food aid is an important aspect of the Community's development cooperation policy;Whereas food aid must be integrated into the developing countries' policies for the improvement of their food security, in particular by the establishment of food strategies aimed at alleviating poverty and geared to achieving the ultimate goal of making food aid superfluous;Whereas the Community and its Member States closely coordinate their development cooperation policies as regards food aid programmes and operations aimed specifically at enhancing food security; whereas the Community, with its Member States, is a party to certain international agreements in this domain, and in particular the Food Aid Convention;Whereas regional, national and household food security, with the long-term aim of securing universal and constant access to a diet that will promote a healthy and active life, is an important element in the fight against poverty and whereas it is important for this to be emphasized in all programmes intended for developing countries;Whereas food aid must not have any adverse effects on the normal production and commercial import structures of the recipient countries;Whereas food aid and operations in support of food security are key features of Community development cooperation policy and must be taken into account as objectives in all Community policies likely to affect the developing countries, in particular from the point of view of economic reforms and structural adjustment;Whereas, given the different responsibilities of men and women for the food security of households, systematic account should be taken of their different roles when drawing up programmes aimed at achieving food security;Whereas women and communities should be involved to a greater extent in efforts to achieve food security at national, regional or local level and at the level of households;Whereas food aid must be an effective instrument ensuring access to an adequate and appropriate diet and improving the availability and accessibility of foodstuffs to the public, consistent with local dietary habits and production and trading systems, particularly in food crises, and fully integrated into development policy;Whereas the food-aid instrument is a key component of the Community's policy on preventing or helping in crisis situations in the developing countries and whereas account should be taken in its implementation of its possible social and political effects;Whereas food-aid operations cannot be part of a viable solution unless they are integrated into development operations geared to relaunching local production and trade;Whereas analysis, diagnosis, programming and monitoring need to be improved to make food aid more effective and avoid adverse effects on local production, distribution, transport and marketing capacities;Whereas food aid should be made a real instrument of the Community's policy of cooperation with the developing countries, thereby enabling the Community to participate fully in multiannual development projects;Whereas it is therefore necessary that the Community be able to provide a steady overall flow of aid and be in a position, in appropriate cases, to undertake to supply to the developing countries minimum amounts of products under specific multiannual programmes linked to development policies as well as to enter into undertakings in relation to international organizations;Whereas the Community's support for the developing countries' efforts to achieve food security could be enhanced by greater flexibility in food aid, granting financial support for operations concerning food security, and in particular the development of farming and food crops, as an alternative to food aid in certain circumstances, while protecting the environment and the interests of small farmers and fishermen;Whereas the Community can assist those in need in rural and urban areas in the developing countries by helping finance operations in support of food security through the purchase of food products, seed, agricultural implements and inputs, and relevant means of production, and through storage programmes, early-warning systems, mobilization, supervision and technical and financial assistance;Whereas it is necessary to continue to support regional approaches to food security, including local purchasing operations in order to make use of the natural complementarity between countries belonging to the same region; whereas the policies conducted in the field of food security should be given a regional dimension in order to foster regional trade in foodstuffs and promote integration;Whereas the purchase of foodstuffs at local level reduces inefficiency, costs and damage to the environment which might be caused by the transport of large quantities of foodstuffs in the world;Whereas the genetic potential and bio-diversity of food production must be safeguarded;Whereas Community food-aid policy must adjust to geopolitical change and the economic reforms under way in many recipient countries;Whereas a list should be drawn up of the countries and bodies eligible for Community aid operations;Whereas to that end provision should also be made for Community aid to be made available to international, regional and non-governmental organizations; whereas such organizations must satisfy a number of conditions guaranteeing the success of food-aid operations;Whereas, in order to facilitate the application of certain of the measures envisaged and ensure that they mesh with the recipient country's food security policy, provision should be made for close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within a Food Security and Food Aid Committee;Whereas in determining the steps to be taken for the execution of food-aid operations the implementing procedures should be adjusted to the specific nature of each recipient area, although within the framework of a common policy and strategy;Whereas, in order to ensure better management of food aid, aligning it more closely on the interests and needs of the recipient countries, and to improve the decision-making and implementing procedures, it is desirable to replace Council Regulation (EEC) No 3972/86 of 22 December 1986 on food-aid policy and food-aid managementOJ No L 370, 30. 12. 1986, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1930/90 (OJ No L 174, 7. 7. 1990, p. 6)., Council Regulation (EEC) No 1755/84 of 19 June 1984 on the implementation in relation to food of alternative operations in place of food-aid deliveriesOJ No L 165, 23. 6. 1984, p. 7., Council Regulation (EEC) No 2507/88 of 4 August 1988 on the implementation of storage programmes and early warning systemsOJ No L 220, 11. 8. 1988, p. 1., Council Regulation (EEC) No 2508/88 of 4 August 1988 on the implementation of cofinancing operations for the purchase of food products or seeds by international bodies or non-governmental organizationsOJ No L 220, 11. 8. 1988, p. 4. and Council Regulation (EEC) 1420/87 of 21 May 1987 laying down procedures for the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 3972/86 on food-aid policy and food-aid managementOJ No L 136, 26. 5. 1987, p. 1.,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: