8.12.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 325/11 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2396/2001 of 7 December 2001 laying down the marketing standard applicable to leeks THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables ('), as last amended by Commission Regu- lation (EC) No 911/2001 (3), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof, Whereas: (1)  In accordance with Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, standards for leeks have been adopted by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1076/89 (%), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 888/97 (. 2)  In the interest of preserving transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the standard for leeks recommended by the working party on standardi- sation of perishable produce and quality development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNJECE). In addition, it is desirable to allow higher tolerances for Class I early leeks. It is therefore necessary to delete Regulation (EEC) No 1076/89 and to replace it by a new Regulation laying down standards taking these facts into account. (3)  Application of these standards should remove products of unsatisfactory quality from the market, bring produc- tion into line with consumer requirements and facilitate trade based on fair competition, thereby helping to improve profitability. (4)  The standards are applicable at all marketing stages. Long-distances transport, storage over a certain period and the various processes the products undergo may cause some degree of deterioration owing to the biolog- ical development of the products or their perishable nature. Account should be taken of such deterioration when applying the standard at the marketing stages following dispatch. (5)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The marketing standard for leeks falling within CN code 0703 90 00 shall be as set out in the Annex. The standard shall apply at all marketing stages under the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96. However, at stages following dispatch, products may show in relation to the requirements of the standard slight lack of freshness and turgidity, as well as slight deterioration due to their development and their perishable nature. Article 2 Regulation (EEC) No 1076/89 is repealed. Article 3 This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply from 1 March 2002. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 7 December 2001. () O] L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. () O] L 129, 11.5.2001, p. 3. () O] L 114, 27.4.1989, p. 14. (% O] L 126, 17.5.1997, p. 11. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission