L 271/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 8.10.98 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2161/98 of 7 October 1998 on the sale, by means of the procedure laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2539/84, of beef held by certain intervention agencies and intended for export to certain destinations and repealing Regulation (EC) No 788/98 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1633/98 (3, and in particular Article 7(3) thereof, Whereas the application of intervention measures in respect of beef has resulted in a build-up of stocks in several Member States; whereas outlets for these products exist in certain third countries; whereas, in order to prevent storage being prolonged excessively, part of these stocks should be sold by tendering procedure for export to those countries; whereas to permit the sale of meat of uniform quality, beef that was purchased under Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 should be sold; Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2539/84 of 5 September 1984 laying down detailed rules for certain sales of frozen beef held by the intervention agencies (?), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2417/95 (%), provides for the possibility of a two-stage procedure for the sale of beef from intervention; Whereas the sale should be conducted in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2539/84 and Commission Regula- tion (EEC) No 3002/92 of 16 October 1992 laying down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or des- tination of products from intervention (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 770/96 (°); Whereas, in order to ensure that the tendering procedure is consistent and uniform, measures should be adopted in addition to those provided for in Article 8(1) of Commis- sion Regulation (EEC) No 2173/79 of 4 October 1979 on detailed rules of application for the disposal of beef () OJ L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 24. () OJ L 210, 28. 7. 1998, p. 7. () OJ L 238, 6. 9. 1984, p. 13. () OJ L 248, 14. 10. 1995, p. 39. () OJ L 301, 17. 10. 1992, p. 17. () OJ L 104, 27. 4. 1996, p. 13. bought in by intervention agencies (’), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2417/95; Whereas provision should be made for derogations from Article 8(2)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 2173/79 in view of the administrative difficulties which the application of this point is creating in the Member States concerned; Whereas, for administrative reasons, a minimum quantity should be set for tenders, taking into consideration normal commercial practice; Whereas, for practical reasons, export refunds will not be granted for beef sold under this Regulation; whereas, however, buyers will be required to apply for export licences for the quantity allocated, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (®), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 759/98 (°); whereas the deadline for taking over laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 2539/84 should accordingly be adjusted; Whereas, in order to ensure that the beef sold is exported to the eligible third countries, provision should be made for a security to be lodged before the goods are taken over and the primary requirements should be determined; Whereas products from intervention stocks may in certain cases have undergone several handling operations; whereas, in order to contribute to their satisfactory presentation and marketing, it is appropriate to authorise the repackaging of the products in certain specified circumstances; Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 788/98 (1%) should be repealed; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal, (y OJ L 251, 5. 10. 1979, p. 12. (%) OJ L 143, 27. 6. 1995, p. 35. () OJ L 105, 4. 4. 1998, p. 7. (% OJ L 113, 15. 4. 1998, p. 25.