L 85/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 3. 98 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 625/98 of 19 March 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 980/92 laying down detailed rules for applying the aid scheme for the marketing in Martinique and Guadeloupe of rice produced in French Guiana as regards the destination of the rice in respect of which aid is paid THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the French overseas departments ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (3, and in particular Article 3(5) thereof, Whereas point 3(d) of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 provides that the volume of rice produced locally in French Guiana which may benefit from aid for disposal and marketing shall be increased to take account of profitability requirements; whereas, in particular, under Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 a limited quantity of that production up to 4 000 tonnes may benefit from aid so that it can be disposed of or marketed elsewhere in the Community; Whereas the provisions required to implement Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 and so amend Commission Regulation (EEC) No 980/92 of 21 April 1992 laying down detailed rules for applying the aid scheme for the marketing in Martinique and Guadeloupe of rice produced in French Guiana (°) should be adopted; whereas these technical adaptations should cover in particular the arrangements for granting the aid for contracts for disposal or marketing concluded between the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 and the entry into force of this Regula- tion, the definition of the parties to the contract for the disposal or marketing of rice produced in French Guiana, the measures to be taken to ensure that the maximum quantities which may benefit from aid are not exceeded and appropriate checks to ensure compliance with the aim of the scheme; Whereas, in order to comply with the aim of the measure, the necessary steps should be taken to ensure that the products receiving aid are not exported, reconsigned from the overseas departments to the rest of the Community or () OJ L 356, 24. 12. 1991, p. 1. () OJ L 267, 9. 11. 1995, p. 1. () OF L 104, 22. 4. 1992, p. 31. reconsigned from the rest of the Community to the over- seas departments; Whereas, to ensure effective application of the aid arrangements, this Regulation should apply from the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 2598/95; whereas, however, the effects of reconsignments and exports from Guadeloupe and Martinique to the rest of the Community and to non-member countries carried out in accordance with the provisions replaced by this Regu- lation should be considered definitive; whereas accor- dingly the new text of Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 980/92 should apply to reconsignments and exports from Guadeloupe and Martinique with effect from the date of entry into force of this Regulation; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Rice, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 980/92 is amended as follows: 1. The title is replaced by the following: ‘Commission Regulation (EEC) No 980/92 of 21 April 1992 laying down detailed rules for applying the aid scheme for the marketing of rice produced in French Guiana’. 2. Article 1(1) is replaced by: ‘1. For the purposes of applying the aid scheme provided for in Article 3(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, “annual contract” means a contract by which an operator, either a natural or a legal person estab- lished elsewhere in the Community other than in French Guiana, undertakes, before the beginning of the marketing period, to dispose of or market in Guadeloupe, Martinique or elsewhere in the Commun- ity all or part of the rice production of a producer or a producers’ association or union in French Guiana’.