5.7.96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 166/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1292/96 of 27 June 199 on food-aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food security THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (3, Whereas now, as ever, food aid is an important aspect of the Community’s development cooperation policy; Whereas food aid must be integrated into the developing countries’ policies for the improvement of their food security, in particular by the establishment of food strate- gies aimed at alleviating poverty and geared to achieving the ultimate goal of making food aid superfluous; Whereas the Community and its Member States closely coordinate their development cooperation policies as regards food aid programmes and operations aimed spe- cifically at enhancing food security; whereas the Com- munity, with its Member States, is a party to certain inter- national agreements in this domain, and in particular the Food Aid Convention; Whereas regional, national and household food security, with the long-term aim of securing universal and constant access to a diet that will promote a healthy and active life, is an important element in the fight against poverty and whereas it is important for this to be emphasized in all programmes intended for developing countries; () OJ No C 253, 29. 9. 1995, p. 10. " (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 1995 (OJ No C 17, 22. 1. 1996), Council Common Position of 29 January 1996 and decision of the European Parliament of 24 May 1996 (O] No C 166, 10. 6. 1996). Whereas food aid must not have any adverse effects on the normal production and commercial import structures of the recipient countries; Whereas food aid and operations in support of food se- curity are key features of Community development cooperation policy and must be taken into account as objectives in all Community policies likely to affect the developing countries, in particular from the point of view of economic reforms and structural adjustment; Whereas, given the different responsibilities of men and women for the food security of households, systematic account should be taken of their different roles when drawing up programmes aimed at achieving food security; Whereas women and communities should be involved to a greater extent in efforts to achieve food security at national, regional or local level and at the level of house- holds; Whereas food aid must be an effective instrument ensur- ing access to an adequate and appropriate diet and impro- ving the availability and accessibility of foodstuffs to the public, consistent with local dietary habits and production and trading systems, particularly in food crises, and fully integrated into development policy; Whereas the food-aid instrument is a key component of the Community’s policy on preventing or helping in crisis situations in the developing countries and whereas account should be taken in its implementation of its possible social and political effects; Whereas food-aid operations cannot be part of a viable solution unless they are integrated into development operations geared to relaunching local production and trade; Whereas analysis, diagnosis, programming and monitor- ing need to be improved to make food aid more effective and avoid adverse effects on local production, distribution, transport and marketing capacities;