20. 1. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 17/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 86/94 of 19 January 1994 establishing a reference method for the determination of sitosterol and stigmasterol in butter 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 and milk products (*), as last amended by Regula- tion (EEC) No 2071/92 (%), and in particular Asticle 6 (7) thereof, Whereas butter may be traced and the traced products have to be controlled according to Articles 3 and 6 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 570/88 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3049/93 (); Whereas strict compliance with the conditions relating to the tracing of butter is essential in order to prevent the risk of unauthorized use of subsidized butter; Whereas taking account of the importance of tracing in the proper functioning of this scheme it is necessary to establish common methods for detection of all tracers required by this scheme applicable in the same way ‘throughout the Community; this would in particular ensure equal treatment of all operators having access to this scheme and eliminate unequal conditions of compe- tition which may result at present, as a consequence of different national methods of analysis; Whereas a reference method for the determination of stigmasterol and sitosterol in butteroil has been esta- blished by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3942/92 () ; whereas this method can be applied in a slightly modified form for the determination of sterol tracers in butter; Whereas the accuracy of the method and the tolerance limits had to be determined ; 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 The reference method of analysis to determine the stig- masterol or B-sitosterol content of butter according to Atrticle 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 570/88 is specified in the Annex. Butter has been traced correctly if the results obtained are in accordance with the requirements specified in para- graph 8 of this Annex. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply from 1 April 1994. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 19 January 1994. () OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13. () OJ No L 215, 30. 7. 1992, p. 64. () O No L S5, 1. 3. 1988, p. 31. () OJ No L 273, 5. 11. 1993, p. 7. (% OJ No L 399, 31. 12. 1992, p. 29. For the Commission René STEICHEN Member of the Commission