L 69/10 Official Journal of the European Union 13.3.2008 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 223/2008 of 12 March 2008 laying down conditions and procedures for the recognition of producer organisations of silkworm rearers THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agri- cultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agri- cultural products (Single CMO Regulation) ('), and in particular Article 127 in conjunction with Article 4 thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 707/76 of 25 March 1976 on the recognition of producer groups of silkworm rearers (%) is to be repealed from 1 April 2008 under Article 201(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007. (2)  Certain conditions and obligations laid down in Regu- lation (EEC) No 707/76 have not been incorporated in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007. (3)  In order to enable the silkworm sector to continue to function properly and in the interest of clarity and ratio- nalisation a new Regulation should be adopted laying down those conditions and obligations as well as the current implementing rules laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 822/76 of 7 April 1976 on the conditions and the procedures for the recognition of producer groups of silkworm rearers (?). (4 Regulation (EEC) No 822/76 should therefore be repealed. (5)  The new Regulation should apply from the date of repeal of Regulation (EEC) No 707/76. (6)  Article 122 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides for the recognition in the silkworm sector of producer organisations which pursue a specific aim, which may in particular relate to concentrating supply and marketing the produce of the members, adapting production jointly to the requirements of the market and improving the () O] L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. () O] L 84, 31.3.1976, p. 1. () O] L 94, 9.4.1976, p. 19. (10) (11) product, promoting the rationalisation and mechani- sation of production. To avoid any discrimination between producers and ensure the unity and effectiveness of any action undertaken, conditions and procedures for the recog- nition of producer organisations in the silkworm sector should be laid down, applicable throughout the Community; producer organisations should comply with those conditions and procedures to qualify for recognition by the Member States. The recognition of producer organisations should be linked to the evidence of economic activity on an adequate scale related to the production and marketing in the silkworm sector, while derogations should be made possible in regions with low production. However, since the number of silkworm producers has considerably decreased in the last few years, the threshold of the minimum number of producers required to form a recognised producer organisation, fixed in Regulation (EEC) No 822/76, should be significantly reduced. The provisions relating to the procedure for the granting and withdrawal of recognition should be amplified by specifying the information to be supplied when the appli- cation is lodged. For the information of Member States and parties concerned, a list should be published at the beginning of each year, of the groups which were recognized during the previous year and of those from whom recognition was withdrawn during the same period. The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 1. Article 1 Member States shall recognise producer organisations of silkworm rearers which: (a) request recognition;