L161/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.6.2001 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1172/2001 of 15 June 2001 opening public sales of wine alcohol for use as bioethanol in the European Community THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 (3), Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 of 25 July 2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 545/2001 (¥, and in particular Article 92 thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 lays down inter alia the detailed rules for disposing of stocks of alcohol obtained from distillation under Articles 27, 28 and 30 of Regula- tion (EC) No 1493/1999 and held by the intervention agencies. (2)  Public sales of wine alcohol for use in the fuel sector in the Community should be organised with a view to reducing Community stocks of wine alcohol and to some extent ensuring supplies to firms approved under Article 92 of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000. Community stocks of wine alcohol held by the Member States come from distillation under Articles 35, 36 and 39 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common organisation of the market in wine (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1677/ 1999 (%), as well as Articles 27 and 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999. (3)  In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 of 15 December 1998 establishing agrimonetary arrangements for the euro (), sale price and securities must be expressed, and payments made, in euro. (4)  Given that there are risks of fraud by substitution of alcohol, it would appear necessary to reinforce checks on the final destination of the alcohol, allowing the intervention agencies to call on the help of international 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1. 328, 23.12.2000, p. 2. 194, 31.7.2000, p. 45. 81, 21.3.2001, p. 21. 84, 27.3.1987, p. 1. 199, 30.7.1999, p. 8. 349, 24.12.1998, p. 1. STS B LLoLeene e 3 Slelrlslewe control agencies and to check the alcohol sold by means of nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. (5)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Three lots of alcohol (Nos 3/2001 EC, 4/2001 EC and 5/2001 EC) each comprising 50 000 hectolitres at 100 % vol are hereby put up for public sale for use in the fuel sector within the Community. The alcohol has been obtained from distilla- tion as provided for in Article 35, 36 and 39 of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87, as well as Articles 27 and 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, and is held by the Spanish and Italian intervention agencies. Article 2 The location and references of the vats making up the lots, the quantity of alcohol in each vat, the alcoholic strength and the characteristics of the alcohol are as set out in the Annex hereto. The lots shall be awarded to the three firms approved under Article 92 of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000. Article 3 All communications concerning this public sale shall be sent to the following Commission department: European Commission Directorate-General for Agriculture, Unit D-4, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussels; fax (32-2) 2959252, telex 22037 AGREC B, 22070 AGREC B (Greek), e-mail address: agri-d4@cec.eu.int. Atrticle 4 The public sales shall take place in accordance with Articles 92 to 96, 98, 100 and 101 of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 and Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 2799/98. Atticle 5 The price of the alcohol for public sale shall be EUR 22,98 per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol.