18. 4. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 101/15 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 672/97 of 17 April 1997 laying down detailed rules governing the grant of private storage aid for Pecorino Romano cheese THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk products ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1587/96 (%), and in particular Articles 9 (3) and 28 thereof, Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 508/71 of 8 March 1971 laying down general rules on private storage aid for long-keeping cheeses () permits the granting of private storage aid for sheep’s milk cheeses requiring at least six months for maturing where a serious market imbalance could be eliminated or reduced by seasonal storage; Whereas the seasonal nature of Pecorino Romano cheese production results in the building up of stocks which are difficult to sell and which risk causing a lowering of prices; whereas seasonal storage should therefore be intro- duced for the quantities to improve the situation and allow producers time to find outlets for their cheese; Whereas the detailed rules of this measure should deter- mine the maximum quantity to benefit from it as well as the duration of the contracts in relation to the real re- quirements of the market and the keeping qualities of the cheeses in question; whereas it is necessary to specify the terms of the storage contract so as to enable the identifi- cation of the cheese and to maintain checks on the stock in respect of which aid is granted; whereas the aid should be fixed taking into account storage costs and the foresee- able trend of market prices; Whereas Article 1 (1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1756/93 of 30 June 1993 fixing the operative events for the agricultural conversion rate applicable to milk and milk products (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 569/96 (), fixes the conversion rate to be applied in the framework of private storage aid schemes in the milk products sector; Whereas experience shows that provisions on checks should be laid down, particularly as regards the docu- OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13. O] No L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 21. O] No L S8, 11. 3. 1971, p. 1. % OJ No L 161, 2. 7. 1993, p. 48. % O] No L 80, 30. 3. 1996, p. 48. ments to be submitted and checks to be made on the spot; whereas therefore, it should be provided that Member States require the costs of checks be fully or partly borne by the contractor; Whereas it is appropriate to guarantee the continuation of the storage operations in question; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Aid shall be granted in respect of the private storage of 15000 tonnes of Pecorino Romano cheese manufactured in the Community and satisfying the requirements of Articles 2 and 3. Article 2 1. 'The intervention agency shall conclude storage contracts only when the following conditions are met: (a) the quantity of cheese to which the contract relates is not less than two tonnes; (b) the cheese was manufactured at least 90 days before the date specified in the contract as being the date of commencement of storage, and after 1 November 1996; (c) the cheese has undergone tests which show that it meets the condition laid down in (b) and that it js of first quality; (d) the storer undertakes: — to keep the cheese during the entire period of storage in premises where the maximum tempera- ture is +16°C, — not, during the term of the contract, to alter the composition of the batch which is the subject of the contract without authorization from the inter- vention agency. If the condition concerning the