No L 142/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 6. 96 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1082/96 of 14 June 1996 establishing a reference method for the determination of the ethyl ester of beta-apo-8’ carotenic acid in concentrated butter and butter 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 ('), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2931/95 (3), and in parti- cular Article 6 (7) and Article 12 (3) thereof, Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 570/88 of 16 February 1988 on the sale of butter at reduced prices and the granting of aid for butter and for concentrated butter for use in the manufacture of pastry products, ice-cream and other foodstuffs (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 531/96 (%), provides for the tracing of the subsi- dized butter and concentrated butter in certain circum- stances in order to ensure the correct end use of these products; Whereas, in view of the importance of tracing to the proper functioning of the scheme and in order to ensure the equal treatment of operators who participate in it, it is appropriate to establish common methods for the deter- mination of the tracers referred to in Regulation (EEC) No 570/88; Whereas it is difficult to establish such reference methods for all tracers simultaneously; whereas establishing a reference method for the determination of the ethyl ester of beta-apo-8' carotenic acid in concentrated butter or butter constitutes a further step in this direction; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The reference method of analysis specified in the Annex shall be applied for the determination of the beta-apo-8’ carotenic acid ethyl ester content of concentrated butter or butter under Regulation (EEC) No 570/88. Concentrated butter or butter have been traced in confor- mity with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 570/88 if the results obtained are in accordance with the specifications of paragraph 8 of the Annex. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply from 1 October 1996. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 14 June 1996. () OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13. () O] No L 307, 20. 12. 1995, p. 10. () O] No L 55, 1. 3. 1988, p. 31. ) N () O No L 78, 28. 3. 1996, p. 13. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission