5.3.79 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 54/121 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 356/79 of 5 February 1979 on general rules governing the special distillation of table wines referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 of 5 February 1979 on the common organization of the market in wine (1), and in particular Article 58 (2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (?), Whereas Article 58 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 provides for the special distillation of table wines, for producer associations only, when the total volume of supplies available in the Community, including imports of wine from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia — hereinafter referred to as the Maghreb countries — is such as to disturb the Community market; whereas the conditions in which the special distillation may take place should be defined; Whereas the criteria for initiating distillation and in particular the concept of disturbance of the market should be defined; Whereas the criteria for determining the quantities to be distilled must also be laid down; Whereas the type of wine which is in direct competition with wines from the Maghreb countries should be determined; Whereas provision should be made for a method of calculating the quota of each producer association in the total quantity to be distilled; Whereas the price to be paid for the distilled wine should be specified; Whereas, if this price does not allow the products obtained from this operation to be marketed under normal conditions, it will be necessary to provide aid; Whereas an organization should be made responsible for applying these provisions in each Member State concerned, (1) See page 1 of this Official Journal. (3) OJ No C 276, 20. 11. 1978, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. The decision to distil referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 shall be adopted when the supply situation including imports of wine from the Maghreb countries is such as to disturb the Community market within the meaning of paragraph 2 below. This - situation shall be studied twice a year, the first time before 15 December, on the basis of the forward estimates, the second time before 15 April, on the basis of the corrected forward estimates. It may be-decided, however, to carry out an additional assessment before 15 September if the quantities imported between 15 April and the aforesaid date are abnormally high. The dates in question are hereinafter referred to as ‘as- sessment’ dates. 2. Disturbance of the Community market shall be deemed to have occurred when the average price of table wine with an alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 11 % vol, on representative markets to be determined, remains, for at least two consecutive weeks in a month, below the average activating prices fixed for the table wines of types R I and R II. Article 2 The quantity of wines qualifying for special distillation shall correspond to the quantity imported from the Maghreb countries between two assessment dates during the calendar months in which a disturbance within the meaning of Article 1 (2) has been ascertained. Where import statistics are not available, an estimate may be made on the basis of import licences issued. This quantity shall be multiplied by a standard value of 12 % vol. Article 3 1. Producer associations producing red wine with an alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 11 % vol wishing to take advantage of special distillation