28.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 84/13 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 549/2002 of 27 March 2002 opening an invitation to tender for the resale on the internal market of 342,92 tonnes of rice held by the Italian intervention agency THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice ("), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 411/2002 (3, and in particular the final indent of Article 8(b) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 492/2001 (}) opened an invitation to tender for the resale on the internal market of approximately 2 752 tonnes of paddy rice held by the Italian intervention agency. The quantity consisted of five lots. Lot No 4, of 627,92 tonnes, was placed on sale at a minimum price of EUR 267 per tonne. Part of that lot, totalling 342,92 tonnes, is still in stock and has now seriously deteriorated. It should therefore be placed on sale again on suitable terms. (2)  The sale should be carried out in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 75/91 of 11 January 1991 laying down the procedures and conditions for the disposal of paddy rice held by intervention agencies (*). (3)  Given the specific characteristics of the rice, which has deteriorated due to natural disasters and is now seriously degraded, in accordance with Article 2(3)(b) of Commis- sion Regulation (EEC) No 3597/90 of 12 December 1990 on the accounting rules for intervention measures involving the buying in, storage and sale of agricultural products by intervention agencies (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1392/97 (), no minimum price should be fixed for that lot and it should be awarded to the highest bidder. (4)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals, 29, 30.12.1995, p. 18. 2, 5.3.2002, p. 27. 1, 13.3.2001, p. 5. , 12.1.1991, p. 15. 50, 14.12.1990, p. 43. 90, 19.7.1997, p. 22. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Italian intervention agency shall open, on the conditions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 75/91, an invitation to tender for the resale on the internal market of a lot of 342,92 tonnes of paddy rice held by that agency. Article 2 Notwithstanding Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 75/91, tenders must relate to the entire lot. Article 3 1. The closing date for the initial submission of tenders shall be 10 April 2002, for the final submission of tenders it shall be 24 April 2002. 2. Tenders must be submitted to the Italian intervention agency: Ente nazionale risi Piazza Pio XI — 1 1-20123 Milano Telephone: (02) 885 51 11 Fax: (02) 86 13 72 3. The rice is stored at the following warchouse: Corso Dante, 24 - Balzola (AL), bins 67, 76 and 86. Atrticle 4 The lot shall be awarded to the highest bidder with no minimum price requirement. Atticle 5 By Tuesday of the week following the closing date for the submission of tenders, the Italian intervention agency shall inform the Commission whether the lot has been sold and, if so, at what price. Atticle 6 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.