No L 166/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 25.6.76 -COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1424/76 of 21 June 1976 _laying down general rules for intervention on the market in rice THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 of 21 June 1976 on. the common organization of the market in rice (), and in particular Article 5 (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the creation of a single market in rice necessitates the application of Community inter- vention measures; whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 lays down that under certain conditions the intervention ‘agencies' must buy in paddy rice which is offered to them; Whereas the implementation of Community inter- vention measures requires takeover to be effected by intervention agencies under conditions which take account of the regionalization of prices; whereas to this end the price to be paid to the seller must be the intervention price valid at a given marketing centre less, where appropriate, transport costs; Whereas; in order that the intervention system can function as simply and effectively as possible, the number of marketing centres in respect of which offers can be made from a given locality should be limited; : Whereas paddy rice held by the intervention agencies should be put on sale without discrimination between buyers established in the Community and at price levels which do not hinder the normal development of market prices in the Community; whereas the tendering procedure best serves that end, () See page 1 of this Official Journal. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. Pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76, all offers for intervention shall be made to an intervention agency in respect of a marketing centre chosen from among the three centres nearest to the place where the paddy rice is when the offer is made. 2. The nearest marketing centres means the centres to which the paddy rice can be transported at the lowest cost. These transport costs shall be deter- mined by the intervention agency. Article 2 1. The intervention agencies shall decide on the place where the paddy rice is to be taken over. 2. If the intervention agency does not take over the paddy rice at the marketing centre specified by the seller but at the place where the paddy rice is located, the price to be paid shall be equal to the intervention price valid for the marketing centre indicated by the seller, less the most advantageous transport costs between the place where the paddy rice is when the offer is made and the marketing centre. These costs shall be determined by the inter- vention agency. 3. If the intervention agency takes over the paddy rice elsewhere than at the marketing centre indicated by the seller and elsewhere than at the place where the paddy rice is when the offer is made, the cost of transport from the place where the paddy rice is to the place where it is taken over shall be borne by the intervention agency. In that case the price to be paid to the seller shall be determined in accord- ance with paragraph 2. Article 3 1. Paddy rice held by the intervention agency shall be disposed of by invitation to tender: