L 33978 Official Journal of the European Union 18.12.2008 COMMISSION 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 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 Articles 37, 43(a) and (d), 191, in conjunction with Article 4 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that when the average Community market price for pig carcasses as established by reference to the prices recorded in each Member State on the representative markets of the Community and weighted by means of coefficients reflecting the relative size of the pig herd in each Member State is, and is likely to remain, at less than 103 % of the reference price, the Commission may decide to grant aid for private storage. (2)  Market prices have fallen below that level and, given seasonal and cyclical trends, this situation could persist. (3)  The situation of the pigmeat market in Ireland is partic- ularly critical taken into account the recent findings of elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in pigmeat originating in Ireland. The competent authorities have taken various measures to address the situation. (4)  Contaminated animal feed was delivered to pig farms in Ireland. The affected pig farms constitute 7 % of the total pig production in Ireland. The contaminated feed constitutes a very large portion of the pig diet resulting in high levels of dioxins in meat from pigs from the affected farms. Given the difficulties in tracing back the pigmeat to farms and given the high 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. (5)  The application of those measures is causing very serious disturbance of the pigmeat market in Ireland. Given the () O] L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. exceptional circumstances and the practical difficulties that the pigmeat market in Ireland is experiencing, it is therefore appropriate to provide for Community emergency market support measures by granting aid for private storage in Ireland, for a limited period and relating to a limited quantity of products. (6)  Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that a private storage aid may be granted for pigmeat and that aid shall be fixed by the Commission in advance or by means of tendering procedure. (7)  As the situation on the pigmeat market in Ireland requires rapid practical action, the most appropriate procedure to grant an aid for private storage would be fixing it in advance. (8)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 of 20 August 2008 laying down common rules for the granting of private storage aid for certain agricultural products () has established common rules for the implementation of the private storage aid scheme. (9)  Pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008, an aid fixed in advance is to be granted in accordance with the detailed rules and conditions provided for in Chapter IIT of that Regulation. (10)  In view of the particular circumstances, it is necessary to require that the products to be placed into storage are derived from pigs that were reared on farms for which it is ascertained that these were not affected by contaminated feed. Moreover, it is necessary to provide that the products concerned originate from pigs raised and slaughtered in Ireland. (11)  In order to facilitate the management of the measure, the pigmeat products are classified according to similarities with regard to the level of storage cost. (12)  In order to facilitate the administrative and control work relating to the conclusion of contracts, minimum quan- tities of products each applicant must provide for should be fixed. () O] L 223, 21.8.2008, p. 3.