9. 5. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 123/2§ COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1277/84 of 8 May 1984 laying down general rules for the system of production aid for processed fruit and vegetables THE COUNCIL 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 vege- tables ('), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 988/84 (%), and in particular Articles 3a (3), 3c (4) and 4 (7) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas Article 3a of Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 specifies, in the case of currants, that producers must undertake not to deliver to the processing industry a specified percentage of the quantities covered by the _contract ; whereas this percentage must be such as to ensure that the products delivered by the producer are of suitable quality; whereas, in the case of dried grapes, payment of the aid is conditional on non-pro- cessing by the industry of a percentage of these quan- tities to be determined; whereas these percentages must be such as to ensure that the products intended for consumption are of suitable quality; Whereas certain products eligible for aid are in direct competition with one another; whereas the produc- tion aid should not affect that competitive situation ; whereas this aid should be calculated for the main products concerned, and the aid for the other products should be derived from the aid thus calculated ; Whereas Article 3b (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 provides that the minimum price to be paid to the producer for dried grapes and dried figs shall be increased during the marketing year; whereas, as a result, the price of the raw material to be taken into consideration in calculating the aid should be deter- mined ;  Whereas Article 3c of the said Regulation specifies that the third-country price shall be taken into consi- () OJ No L 73, 21. 3. 1977, p. 1. () OJ No L 103, 16. 4. 1984, p. 11. deration in calculating the aid ; whereas this price may be ascertained from both the prices of imports into the Community and prices recorded on the world market ; Whereas that Article also specifies that the third- " country price must be reduced to the price at the raw material stage; whereas, for this purpose, account should be taken, in particular, of the present situation with regard to processing costs in the Community and, to the extent to which they are available, in third countries ; whereas, where a, minimum import price is applicable, it must be borne in mind, when assessing the present situation, that this price is identical in all Member States ; Whereas changes in processing costs may only be taken into consideration at subsequent fixings in case of necessity ; whereas such a situation arises when the sale of products is likely to encounter difficulties; Whereas the price of the Community products on the market may be found to provide additional informa- tion for calculation of the aid; whereas provision should therefore be made for the possibility of taking this into account; Whereas, where the volume of imports is low, the third-country prices in question are considered not to be representative ; whereas the volume of imports is considered to be low if they remain below 10 % of consumption ; Whereas, where the third-country price is not repre- sentative, a price should be used which is calculated on the basis of the trend of prices and the sales possi- bilities on the Community market ; Whereas the aid is calculated for the raw material ; whereas, however, the aid must be granted for the net-weight finished product; whereas the ratio between the two can be fixed on the basis of average yields recorded in the Community; Whereas the storage agencies must purchase quantities of dried grapes and dried figs at the end of the market- ing year ; whereas these products must be sold in such a way that the normal commercial market will not be disturbed ; whereas it should therefore be specified that the terms of sale are to be laid down at Commu- nity level,