No L 316/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 12. 94 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2991/94 ‘ of 5 December 1994 laying down standards for spreadable fats THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, "Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the oplnlon of the European Par- liament (3), Havmg regard to  the opinion of the Economlc and Social Committee (%), Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (), lays down in Article 6 a single defi- nition for butter covered by the intervention system; ‘Whereas, moreover, Articles 35a and 36 of Council Regu- lation No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in oils and fats (), provide for the establishment of marke- ting standards for all products in that sector; whereas these standards, especially in the case of margarine, may in particular relate to quality classification, taking account of marketing requirements and the special position of these products ; ' Whereas the development of production techniques and the expectations of consumers have resulted in increasing diversification of the market-in solid fats intended for human consumption ; - Whereas the products covered by this Regulation must be deemed to be competing products, being comparable - from the point of view of certain charactenstlcs in parti- cular appearance and use ; Whereas the laying dc')wn of marketing standards for the milk and non-milk products concerned with a clear and distinct classification accompanied by rules on designa- ‘tion will accordingly ensure the stability of the agricul- tural markets in question and contribute to the establish- ment of a fair standard of living for the agncultural popu- lation ; 0 0_] No C 36, 14. 2. 1992, p. 12 and OJ No C 62, 4. 3. 1993, p. Gl OJ No C 337, 21. 12. 1992, p. 236. () OJ No C 223, 31. 8. 1992, p. 64. () OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13 Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2807/94 (OJ No L 298, 19. 11. 1994, 1). ® O_] No 172, 30. 9. 1966, 3025/66. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3179/93 (O] No L 285, 20. 11. 1993, p. 9). Whereas the main aspect of the products is their fat content ; whereas the products with a fat content of at least 10 % but less than 90 % by weight intended for human consumption make up the great majority of products on the market, and in particular of products intended for the ultimate consumer; Whereas a solution laying down a uniform classification for all the products involved will make it easier for the - consumer to choose between products which, on the one hand, are comparable as regards fat content in general but, on the other hand, differ as regards the plant and/or animal fats used ; Whereas the scope of the Regulation must be extended to all competing products with a fat content of at least 10 % but less than 90 % by total weight intended for supply without further processing to the ultimate consumer ; Whereas the possibility of manufacturing products with various fat contents should be maintained and, in order to avoid confusing the consumer, and in view of experience gained in the milk sector, the terms ‘butter’ and ‘marga- rine’ should be used solely for -certain categories of products with a clearly defined fat content; Whereas, moreover, such a framework of Community rules will contribute towards the development of trade under conditions of fair competition ; Whereas, in order to achieve the desired clarity, designa- tions for all the products concerned should be laid down ; whereas the reduction in the fat content must appear in ‘the designation ; Whereas, as a result, provision should be made that only those products meeting the requirements of this Regula- tion may be supplied for final consumption; whereas products which fall outside the scope of this Regulation may be supplied or transferred to the ultimate consumer, but the reserved sales descriptions may not be used ; Whereas this Regulation must apply without prejudice to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1898/87 of 2 July 1987 on the protection of designations used in the marketing of milk and milk products (%), as is also the case with regard to Community legislation in the veterinary and foodstuffs sectors aimed at ensuring compliance with hygiene and labelling standards for foodstuffs ; (¥ OJ No L 182, 3. 7. 1987, p. 36. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 222, 88 (OJ No L 28,1.2.1988, p. 1).