L 98/26 Official Journal of the European Union 17.4.2009 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 314/2009 of 16 April 2009 adopting temporary exceptional support measure for the pigmeat and beef market in form of a disposal scheme in part of the United Kingdom 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 191, in conjunction with Article 4 thereof, Whereas: Following the recent findings of elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in pigmeat orig- inating in Ireland, the situation of the pigmeat market in Ireland and Northern Ireland has been particularly critical. The competent authorities have taken various measures to address the situation. Contaminated animal feed was delivered to pig and cattle farms in Ireland. The contaminated feed constitutes a very large portion of the pig diet resulting in elevated levels of dioxins in meat from pigs from the affected farms. Given the difficulties in tracing back the pigmeat to farms and given the elevated levels of dioxin found in the affected pigmeat, the Irish authorities decided to recall, as a precautionary measure, all pigmeat and pigmeat products from the market. Given the exceptional circumstances and the practical difficulties that the pigmeat market in Ireland and Northern Ireland is experiencing, the Commission adopted  Regulation (EC) No  1278/2008  of 17 December 2008 adopting emergency support measures for the pigmeat market in form of private storage aid in Ireland () and Regulation (EC) No 1329/2008 of 22 December 2008 adopting emergency support measures for the pigmeat market in form of private storage aid in part of the United Kingdom (3). Furthermore, the European Council of 11 and 12 December 2008 invited the Commission to support 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. oJ L 0] L 339, 18.12.2008, p. 78. oL 345, 23.12.2008, p. 56. () ) farmers and slaughterhouses in Ireland by way of co- financed measures to remove relevant animals and products from the market. In this context, Commission Regulation (EC) No 94/2009 of 30 January 2009 adopting temporary excep- tional support measures for the pigmeat and beef market in the form of a disposal scheme for Ireland (¥ provides for a disposal scheme of certain pigs and cattle that come from farms that had used contaminated feed as well as for pigmeat products that are blocked in or under the responsibility of slaughterhouses in Ireland. In addition to this, the Commission decided on 23 December 2008 not to raise objections against a State aid scheme concerning special measures relating to meat products of animal origin from pigs following a dioxin contamination in Ireland (°) (hereinafter ‘State aid scheme N 643/2008’). That scheme provides, under certain conditions, compensation for pigmeat recalled from other Member States. A considerable part of the pigs slaughtered in Northern Ireland originate from Ireland. In this respect, the feed contamination in Ireland has clearly also repercussions for the pigmeat market in Northern Ireland. However, only pigmeat obtained from pigs slaughtered in Ireland is eligible for compensation under State aid scheme N 643/2008, thereby excluding from compensation under that scheme any meat obtained from pigs slaughtered in Northern Ireland. The beef sector in Northern Ireland was also affected by the feed contamination in Ireland. In particular, according to the UK authorities, it is established that contaminated feed had been delivered to some cattle farms in Northern Ireland. As a result, certain cattle remain blocked on farms in Northern Ireland where samples from other cattle have tested positive for elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Moreover, a certain quantity of beef obtained from animals slaughtered in Northern Ireland no later than 6 December 2008 and which is stored in the United Kingdom, originated from herds where samples from other cattle in these herds had tested positive for elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). 29, 31.1.2009, p. 41. 0J L 0] C 36, 13.2.2009, p. 2.