2.9.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 223/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2427/93 of 1 September 1993 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 with regard to the Community Fund for tobacco research and information THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco ('), and in particular Article 13 (3) thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Article 13 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92, a Community Fund for tobacco research and information is set up; whereas the detailed rules for the application of that provision should be adopted, in parti- cular as regards fixing the deduction of up to 1 % of the premium ; Whereas tobacco production should be steered towards the least harmful varieties and qualities ; Whereas Community health requirements must be taken into account ; whereas, therefore, information should be given to the public, in particular to young people ; Whereas the various proposals presented under the proce- dures provided should be assessed in accordance with criteria conducive to the best possible choice ; whereas, to that end, a public invitation to tender seems the most appropriate course ; Whereas, in the interests of sound administration, the research and information projects approved by the Commission should be carried out within a specified period ; whereas the time limit originally envisaged may prove difficult to meet in exceptional cases; whereas, therefore, provision should be made for the time limit to be extended under certain conditions ; Whereas, in order to reach the best possible choice and the proper implementation of the approved projects, provision shou]d be made for the Commission to be assisted in the assessment of the projects by a scientific and technical committee ; whereas that committee should have access to the services of independent experts; Whereas, in order to guarantee the proper implementa- tion of the approved projects, it is necessary to lay down certain conditions for the payments made by the Fund under contracts concluded between the Commission and the parties who have presented approved projects ; Whereas provision should be made to avoid the unjusti- fied duplication of measures for the same project; () OJ No L 215, 30. 7. 1992, p. 70. Whereas provision should be made for payments to be recovered in certain cases, particularly in the event of irre- gularities ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Tobacco, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 The Community Fund for tobacco research and informa- tion hereinafter referred to as ‘the Fund’ set up by Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 shall finance research and information programmes in accor- dance with this Regulation. Such programmes may cover research and information projects in the following areas: — improving public, and in particular young people’s, knowledge of the harmful effects of using tobacco in any form and the opportunities available for preven- ting them, by means of health information and educa- tion, — steering tobacco production towards the least harmful varieties, qualities and products, particularly by means of appropriate cultivation and drying methods, prac- tices restricting the use of plant health products, and the introduction of new varieties. Article 2 1. In order to be eligible, the projects referred to in Article 1 must: (a) with regard to research: — be of particular interest in the light of the innova- tions sought after, — be geared towards practical application ; (b) with regard to information : — provide effective and objective information for tobacco producers and/or consumers, — be original, practicable and effective in the short term. Priority will be given to projects likely to have a rapid effect on production and those which provide for rapid dissemination among producers of the knowledge or results obtained.