17.7.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 201/29 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1524/98 of 16 July 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the specific measures adopted in respect of fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers for the benefit of the French overseas departments THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the French overseas departments ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (%), and in particular Articles 2(6), 14(4) and Article 16 thereof, Whereas detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2598/95, should be adopted as regards Article 2 thereof which provides for the extension to certain processed fruit of the measures to promote the supply of the French overseas departments (hereinafter referred to as ‘the FOD’), and Article 14 thereof introducing aid for the production of processed fruit and vegetables; Whereas common detailed rules for implementation of the specific measures for the supply of certain agricultural products to the FOD are laid down in Commission Regu- lation (EEC) No 131/92 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1736/96 (*), and whereas detailed rules for the application of the system of import licences for products processed from fruit and vegetables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1921/95 (%), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2427/95 (°); Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, additional detailed rules should be laid down which are adapted to commercial practices as regards in particular the period of validity of licences and certificates and the amount of the security; whereas, in addition, the forecast supply balance for processed fruit for the FOD should be established, and the amount of aid should be set, taking account of the advantage resulting from customs duty exemption for products imported from third countries; Whereas, in order to simplify the legislation, the body of this Regulation should include the provisions adopted in Commission Regulation (EC) No 489/97 of 17 March 1997 laying down detailed rules for the application of the specific measures adopted in respect of fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers for the benefit of the 356, 24. 12. 1991, p. 1. 267, 9. 11. 1995, p. 5. 15, 22. 1. 1992, p. 13. 225, 6. 9. 1996, p. 3. 185, 4. 8. 1995, p. 10. 249, 17. 10. 1995, p. 12. L8L2LL8 | il ol ol onll anll ol French overseas departments (FOD) (") for implementing the marketing and production aid schemes referred to in Articles 13 and 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, and Regulation (EC) No 489/97 should be repealed; Whereas, pursuant to the aforementioned Article 13, the marketing aid is to be set on a flat rate basis for each of the product categories to be determined, based on the average value of the products, and within the limits of annual quantities for each product category; whereas firstly a list of products eligible for the aid should be drawn up based on the supply needs of the regional markets, and secondly the categories should be estab- lished on the basis of the average value of the products so covered, and finally a maximum quantity for all the FOD should be set, providing for distribution of the quantities to be performed by the national authorities to enable the quantities available to be more closely matched to regional needs; whereas this requirement will allow prod- ucts to be supplied to an FOD other than the one in which the product was harvested; Whereas specific detailed rules should be laid down to ensure that the quantities set are monitored and the conditions for the grant of the aid are met; whereas, to that end, a system of approval of operators in the distribu- tion and catering sectors and mass caterers, who under- take to meet certain requirements, will ensure satisfactory administration of the supply system; Whereas, as regards the aid for the production of green vanilla and the aid for the production of essential geranium and vetiver oils, an approval mechanism, firstly for preparers of dried vanilla or vanilla extracts, and secondly for local collecting and marketing bodies, which undertake in particular to pay the aid in full to the recipient producers and meet the control requirements, will make it possible, within the framework of existing marketing structures, to apply these measures satisfac- torily; whereas the quantities laid down in Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 3763/91 are ceilings which, according to the most recent estimates communicated by the French authorities, will not be reached in the medium term; whereas for the sake of sound administration, and taking account of the needs of the most remote regions in question, the corresponding quantities available should be used for implementing the marketing scheme referred to above; () OJ L 76, 18. 3. 1997, p. 6.