21. 12. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 325/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2878/79 of 17 December 1979 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 on the common organization of the market in seeds and Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 on the Common Customs Tariff THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commis- sion (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, following implementation of the Agree- ments resulting from the multilateral trade negotia- tions, certain changes should be made to the Commu- nity rules governing the market in rice ; Whereas appropriate measures should be taken to stab- ilize the market in rice and rice seed and to ensure a fair income for the producers concerned; Whereas for this reason Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 of 26 October 1971 on the common organiza- tion of the market in seeds(*), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 234/79 (5), made provision inter alia for the granting of aid for the production of certain seeds; whereas that Regulation should be extended to rice for sowing, which has hitherto been governed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 of 21 June 1976 on the common organization of the (1) OJ No C 211, 23. 8. 1979, p. 4. () O] No C 289, 19. 11. 1979, p. 49. () O] No C 297, 28. 11. 1979, p. 11. (*) O] No L 246, 5. 11. 1971, p. 1. () OJ No L 34, 9. 2. 1979, p. 2. market in rice (§), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1552/79 (%) ; Whereas provision should also be made for the possi- bility of encouraging, by granting the aid provided for, the production of basic and certified rice seed; whereas this product should be included in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 ; Whereas Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 provides that the amount of the production aid shall be fixed every two years before 1 August for the marketing year beginning in the following year and for the subsequent marketing year ; whereas, however, the amount of aid for the second year may be modi- fied before 1 August for the year preceding its applica- tion if the stability of the market in the Community appears to be seriously threatened; whereas it has become apparent from the situation on the market in practice that this date is too early ; whereas it is there- fore advisable to set the deadline for this modification at a date prior to the start of the marketing year concerned which gives sufficient time for action as regards production ; Whereas, in view of the characteristics of the common organization of the market in seeds, the import levy on rice for sowing should be replaced by a 12 % customs duty; Whereas on import a distinction needs to be made between imports of rice for sowing and other types of rice ; whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 of 28 June 1968 on the Common Customs Tariff (8), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2384/79 (%), should therefore be amended, (¢) OJ No L 166, 25. 6. 1976, p. 1. (') OJ No L 188, 26. 7. 1979, p. 9. (®) OJ No L 172, 27. 7. 1968, p. 1 (%) OJ No L 274, 31. 10. 1979, p. 9.