26. 11. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 331/7 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3140/82 of 22 November 1982 on granting and financing aid granted by Member States to producers’ organizations in the fishery products sector THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 of 29 December 1981 on the common orga- nization of the market in fishery products (*), and in particular Articles 6 (6) and 26 (3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the general conditions and rules for the application of aid granted by Member States to produ- cers’ organizations and the procedure for financing those aids from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund must be adopted ; Whereas the higher aid provided for on a temporary basis in Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 is to be granted to producers’ organizations only if their formation brings about an improvement in production and marketing structures ; whereas the criteria for assessing such improvement should therefore be defined; Whereas, in the case of a producers’ organization formed from organizations which are already recog- nized, the amount of the aid should be limited to the cost of setting up the said organization ; Whereas, to ensure that aid is granted and financed under consistent conditions, the methods for calcula- ting the value of the production put up for sale under the auspices of the producers’ organizations and the administrative expenses of these organizations should be defined ; whereas this calculation must be based on reliable accounts; whereas the difficulty of having such accounts available in certain cases should be taken into account by making provision for an alterna- tive flat-rate method in such cases; Whereas the aid for which an association of producers’ organizations is eligible should be limited to a maximum amount to take account of the fact that each of the member organizations may be eligible for aid for its formation and operation, () OJ No L 379, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 This Regulation lays down the general conditions and rules for granting and financing aid granted to produ- cers’ organizations in the fishery products sector, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81. Article 2 1. A producers’ organization shall be eligible for the aid provided for in Article 6 (2) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 only if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Member State concerned that the formation of such producers’ organization : — taking account, in particular, of the catch plans drawn up by the organization, encourages greater rationalization of fishing activity ; — ensures greater concentration of supply of products landed by its members. 2. However, if a producers’ organization is recog- nized in a Member State or in a region of a Member State in which no other organization whose activity relates to the same products or to similar products has yet been recognized, the formation of such organiza- tion shall be considered in principle as bringing about, within the meaning of Article 6 (2) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81, an improvement in production and marketing structures by comparison with the existing situation. Article 3 In the case of a producers’ organization formed from pre-existing organizations, the aid referred to'in Article 6 (2) (a) and (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81 shall be granted only in respect of actual costs relating to the drawing up of the constituting act and of the statutes of the organization thus constituted. Article 4 For the purpose of calculating the aid referred to in Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3796/81, account shall be taken of the production put up for sale by : — producers who are members of the producers’ organization on the date on which it was recog- nized and who were members of the organization throughout the year for which aid is claimed;