19. 7. 80 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 186/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1917/80 of 15 July 1980 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organi- zation of the market in oils and fats and supplementing Regulation (EEC) No ' 1360/78 on producer groups and associations thereof THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commis- sion (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (?), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Article 5 of Council Regulation No 136/ 66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in oils and fats (*), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1585/80 (3), introduced a system of aid for the produc- tion of olive oil in the Community ; whereas such aid is granted, on the basis of the quantity of oil actually produced, to growers who are members of a producer group recognized pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1360/78 (*) ; whereas these groups may assist with certain of the tasks entailed in the management of the production aid system ; Whereas experience has shown that, because of the main role assigned to them, namely marketing their members’ produce, and because they are small in size and many in number, producer groups are not best qualified to assist with the management of the produc- tion aid system ; whereas this problem can be over- come by providing for the associations of producer groups recognized pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1360/78 to assist with the management of production (") OJ No C 58, 8. 3. 1980, p. 9. (?) Opinion delivered on 19 June 1980 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Opinion delivered on 3 July 1980 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No 172, 30. 9. 1966, p. 3025/66. (5) OJ No L 160, 26. 6. 1980, p. 2. (®) OJ No L 166, 23. 6. 1978, p. 1. aid, since such associations pursue the same objectives as the groups but on a larger scale and since they fulfil the supplementary conditions for recognition laid down in this Regulation ; Whereas assistance with the management of produc- tion aid constitutes for associations a special task not provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1360/78; whereas it is necessary, therefore, to provide for that task to be financed ; whereas in view of the potential benefits afforded to those concerned by the participa- tion of the associations in the management of produc- tion aid, it is fair that the work should be financed by a deduction from production aid ; Whereas, furthermore, in the olive oil sector, some producers whose production is in principle intended for their own consumption do not belong to a producer group within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 1360/78; whereas, therefore, these producers are barred from receiving production aid on the basis of the quantity of olive oil actually produced ; whereas to remedy this situation it must be provided that these producers can receive the aid in question if they subject themselves to the checks of a producer group association ; Whereas Article 11 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC introduced a system of aid for the consumption of olive oil produced and marketed in the Community and provided that the management of these arrange- ments be entrusted to a trade organization under the supervision of the Member State concerned ; whereas experience has shown that the operation of this system of aid management gives rise to practical diffi- culties ; Whereas, in view of the large number of beneficiaries of the system of consumption aid in the main olive oil-producing Member State and in view of the complexity of this system, it is advisable, for ease of administration and to facilitate the granting of aid, to secure a degree of cooperation between the benefici-