Commission Regulation (EC) No 1477/2001

of 18 July 2001

derogating from Regulation (EC) No 708/98 on the taking over of paddy rice by the intervention agencies and fixing the corrective amounts and the price increases and reductions to be applied as regards the buying-in period for the 2000/01 marketing year

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1667/2000(2), and in particular Article 8(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The conditions governing the taking-over of paddy rice by the intervention agencies are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 708/98(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 610/2001(4). Article 6(1) of that Regulation provides that delivery must take place by the end of the second month following receipt of the offer and in any case not later than 31 August of the current marketing year.

(2) During the 2000/01 marketing year, the intervention agencies encountered difficulties in setting up a satisfactory system for the storage, inspection and reception of the goods. As a result of those difficulties, the acceptance of offers submitted and the taking-over of deliveries have fallen behind schedule. Those difficulties justify an extension of the period for delivery to the intervention agency for the 2000/01 marketing year.

(3) In view of the situation facing the intervention agencies, this Regulation must enter into force immediately.

(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Notwithstanding Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 708/98, delivery in respect of the 2000/01 marketing year must take place by no later than the end of the third month following that of receipt of the offer and in any case not later than 31 August 2001.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of 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, 18 July 2001.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 329, 30.12.1995, p. 18.

(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 98, 31.3.1998, p. 21.

(4) OJ L 90, 30.3.2001, p. 17.