Council Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector
26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 160/73 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1256/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard Commission (1), to the proposal from the Having regard to the opinion of Parliament (2), the European Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (4), Having regard to the opinion of Auditors (5), the Court of (1) Whereas, pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992, establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (6), the additional levy scheme, which had originally been introduced from 2 April 1984 in the said sector, was extended by another seven 12-month periods; whereas the purpose of this scheme was to reduce the imbalance between supply and demand on the milk and milk- products market and the resulting structural surpluses; whereas the scheme remains necessary in the future in order to achieve a better market balance; whereas it should therefore continue to be consecutive 12-month periods starting on 1 April 2000; applied further eight for (2) Whereas the level of price support in the dairy sector will be gradually reduced by 15 % in total over three marketing years from 1 July 2005; (1) OJ C 170, 4. 6. 1998, p. 60. (2) Opinion delivered on 6 May 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 407, 28. 12. 1998, p. 203. (4) OJ C 93, 6. 4. 1999, p. 1. (5) OJ C 401, 22. 12. 1998, p. 3. (6) OJ L 405, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 751/1999 (OJ L 96, 10. 4. 1999, p. 11). whereas the effects of this measure on internal consumption and export of milk and milk products justify a well balanced increase in the total the Community following the respective price cuts on the one hand and targeting certain structural problems at an earlier stage on the other; for milk reference quantity in (3) Whereas the individual reference quantity should be defined as the quantity available, irrespective of any quantities which may have been transferred temporarily, on 31 March 2000, the expiry date of the seven periods of application of the following its prolongation decided in 1992; levy scheme the can prevent (4) Whereas the underuse of reference quantities by producers sector of milk production from developing properly; whereas in order to avoid such practices Member States in the possibility should have general principles of accordance with the Community law that, in cases of substantial underuse over a significant period of time, the unused reference quantities will revert to the national reserve with a view to their reallocation to other producers; to decide (5) Whereas in order to strengthen the possibilities for decentralised management of reference quantities for restructuring of milk production or environmental States should be given the power to implement certain the appropriate provisions in that context at territorial level or in collection areas; improvement Member (6) Whereas the experience with the additional levy scheme has shown that the transfer of reference quantities through legal constructions such as leases which do not necessarily lead to a permanent allocation of the reference quantities concerned to the transferee, can be an additional cost factor for milk production hampering the improvement of production structures; whereas, in order to strengthen the reference quantities’ character as a means of regulating the market of the Member States milk and milk products, should be authorised to allocate reference quantities, which have been transferred through leases or comparable legal means, to the national re-distribution, on the basis of reserve for L 160/74 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 to the active criteria, producers individual transfer of to organise objective in particular to those who have used them before; whereas Member States should also have the right reference quantities in a different way than by the means transactions between producers; of whereas in particular with a view to taking account adequately of existing legal rights, that, when using these authorisations, Member States are to take the necessary measures to comply with the general principles of Community law; should be explicitly provided, it non-transferable and used exclusively on behalf of producers whose right to take up production again will be affected as a result of accession. increase The in overall quantities, and the conditions under which the individual reference quantities preceding for subparagraph shall be granted, shall be decided upon in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 11. ’ provided the in (7) Whereas a certain number of provisions in Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 have become obsolete and should therefore be deleted, 4. Article 3(3) shall be deleted. 5. Article 4 shall be replaced by the following: Article 4 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 1, first subparagraph shall be replaced by the following: For eight new consecutive periods of 12 months commencing on 1 April 2000, an additional levy shall be payable by producers of cow’s milk on quantities of milk or milk equivalent delivered to a purchaser or sold directly for consumption during the 12-month period in question in excess of a quantity to be determined. ’ 1. The individual reference quantity available on the holding shall be equal to the quantity available on 31 March 2000. It shall be adjusted, the periods where appropriate, concerned, so that the individual reference quantities of the same type does not quantities exceed referred to in Article 3, taking account of any reductions made for allocation to the national reserve provided for in Article 5. for the sum of corresponding each of global the Individual reference quantities shall be 2. increased or established at the duly justified request of producers to take account of changes affecting their deliveries and/or direct sales. The increase or establishment of such a reference quantity shall be subject to a corresponding reduction or cancellation of the other reference quantity the producer owns. Such adjustments may not lead to an increase in the sum of the deliveries and direct sales referred to in Article 3 for the Member State concerned. 2. The table in Article 3(2) shall be replaced by the table in Annex I to this Regulation. 3. Article 3(2) shall be replaced by the following: Where the individual reference quantities undergo a definitive change, the quantities referred to in Article 3 shall be adjusted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11. ’ 2. The total quantities set out in the Annex shall be fixed without prejudice to possible review in the light of the general market situation and particular conditions existing in certain Member States. The overall quantity for the Finnish deliveries quota may be increased to compensate Finnish “SLOM” producers, up to a maximum of 200 000 tonnes, to be allocated in accordance with Community legislation. This reserve must be 6. Article 5 shall be replaced by the following: Article 5 Within the quantities referred to in Article 3, the Member State may replenish the national reserve following an across-the-board reduction in all the individual reference quantities in order to grant additional or to producers specific quantities determined in accordance with objective criteria agreed with the Commission. 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 160/75 to Article 6(1), reserve and may be Without prejudice reference quantities available to producers who have not marketed milk or other milk products for one of the 12-month periods shall be allocated to the reallocated in national accordance with the first subparagraph. Where the producer resumes production of milk or other milk products within a period to be determined by the Member State, he shall be granted a reference quantity in accordance with Article 4(1) no later than 1 April following the date of his application. Where during at least one 12 months period a producer does not make use, either through deliveries or direct sales, of at least 70 % of the individual reference quantity available to him, Member States may decide in compliance with the general principles of Community law: to the national — whether and under which conditions the total or part of the unused reference quantity shall revert reserve. However, unused reference quantities shall not revert to the national reserve in case of force majeure and in duly justified cases affecting the production producers concerned and recognised by the competent authority; capacity the of — under which conditions a reference quantity producers reallocated the to be shall concerned. ’ 7. Article 6(1), first subparagraph shall be replaced by the following: Before a date that they shall determine and 1. by 31 March at the latest, Member States shall for the 12-month period concerned, authorise, temporary reference of quantities which producers who are entitled thereto do not intend to use. ’ individual transfers 8. Article 7(1) shall be replaced by the following: lease or 1. Reference quantities available on a holding shall be transferred with the holding in the case of transfer by inheritance to the sale, producers in accordance with detailed rules to be determined by the Member States taking account of the areas used for dairy taking it over production or other objective criteria and, where applicable, of any agreement between the parties. Any part of the reference quantity, which is not transferred with the holding, shall be added to the national reserve. However, if a part reverted to the national reserve on the occasion of a transfer of reference quantities the reduction shall not apply to cases where reference quantities are transferred back. The same provisions shall apply to other cases of transfers involving comparable legal effects for producers. carried out However, where land is transferred to public authorities and/or for use in the public interest, or where for non- the transfer is shall purposes, Member agricultural provide that the measures necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the parties are implemented, and in particular that the departing producer is in a position to continue milk production, if such is his intention. ’ States 9. Article 8 shall be replaced by the following: Article 8 With a view to completing restructuring of milk production or improvement, to environmental Member States may take one or more of the following actions in accordance with detailed rules which they shall lay down taking account of the legitimate interests of the parties: (a) grant compensation in one or more annual instalments to producers who undertake to abandon definitively all or part of their milk production and place the reference quantities thus released in the national reserve, a of 12-month at period, (b) determine on the basis of objective criteria the conditions under which producers may the obtain, in return for payment, beginning the reallocation by the competent authority or by the body designated by that authority, of reference quantities released definitively at the end of the preceding 12-month period by other producers in return for compensation in one or more annual instalments equal to the abovementioned payment, L 160/76 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 (c) provide, in the case of land transferred with a view to improving the environment, for the allocation of the reference quantity available on the holding concerned to the departing continuing milk intends producer production, if he (d) determine, on the basis of objective criteria, the regions or collection areas within which the definitive transfer of reference quantities without transfer of the corresponding land is authorised, with the aim of improving the structure of milk production, (e) authorise, upon application by the producer to the competent authority or the body designated by that authority, the definitive reference quantities without transfer of the corresonding land, or vice transfer of versa, with the aim of improving the structure of milk production at the level of the holding or to allow for extensification of production. (c) and (e) may be (b), The rules under (a), the or national implemented appropriate territorial level or in collection areas. ’ level at at 10. The following shall be inserted after Article 8: Article 8a or by other means leases involving comparable legal effects, Member States may decide on the basis of objective criteria whether and under which conditions all or the transferred reference quantity part of shall revert to the national reserve. This provision shall not apply to temporary transfers under Article 6. (b) Member States may decide not to apply the provisions on transfer of reference quantities in Article 7(1). ’ 11. The Annex set out in Annex II to this Regulation is hereby added to Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92. Article 2 Where transitional measures are necessary to facilitate the implementation of the amendments provided for in Article 1, they shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92. Article 3 The Council undertakes to conduct a mid-term review in 2003, on the basis of a Commission report, with the aim of allowing the present quota arrangements to run out after 2006. Acting in compliance with the general principles of Community law, Member States may take the following measures, with the aim of ensuring that reference quantities are solely attributed to active milk producers: Article 4 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. (a) Without prejudice to Article 7(1), second subparagraph, where reference quantities have been or are transferred with or without the corresponding land by means of rural It shall apply from 1 April 2000, save for Article 1, point 2, which shall apply from the date of entry into force thereof. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 17 May 1999. For the Council The President K. -H. FUNKE 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 160/77 ANNEX I Total reference quantities as applicable from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 Member States Deliveries Direct sales (in tonnes) Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy 3 140 696 169 735 4 454 640 708 27 767 036 97 780 629 817 5 457 564 23 793 932 5 236 575 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 9 698 399 231 661 Luxembourg 268 098 951 Netherlands 10 991 900 82 792 Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 2 543 979 205 422 1 835 461 2 394 528 3 300 000 37 000 10 000 3 000 United Kingdom 14 373 969 216 078’ L 160/78 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 ANNEX II ANNEX (a) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as (c) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as applicable from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 applicable from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005 (in tonnes) (in tonnes) Member States Deliveries Direct sales Member States Deliveries Direct sales Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 140 696 4 454 640 27 767 036 674 617 5 807 564 23 793 932 5 332 575 10 082 399 268 098 10 991 900 2 543 979 1 835 461 2 394 528 3 300 000 United Kingdom 14 386 577 (*) 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 216 078 Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 140 696 4 454 640 27 767 036 699 817 6 007 564 23 793 932 5 386 575 10 298 399 268 098 10 991 900 2 543 979 1 835 461 2 394 528 3 300 000 (*) Specific quota increase for allocation to Northern Ireland. United Kingdom 14 393 669 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 216 078 (b) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as (d) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as applicable from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 applicable from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 (in tonnes) (in tonnes) Member States Deliveries Direct sales Member States Deliveries Direct sales Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 140 696 4 454 640 27 767 036 699 817 6 007 564 23 793 932 5 386 575 10 298 399 268 098 10 991 900 2 543 979 1 835 461 2 394 528 3 300 000 United Kingdom 14 393 669 (*) 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 216 078 Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 157 248 4 476 917 27 906 360 699 817 6 007 564 23 915 111 5 386 575 10 298 399 269 443 11 047 273 2 557 726 1 844 823 2 406 551 3 316 515 (*) Specific quota increase for allocation to Northern Ireland. United Kingdom 14 466 619 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 216 078 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 160/79 (e) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as (f) Total reference quantities referred to in Article 3(2) as applicable from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 applicable from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 (in tonnes) (in tonnes) Member States Deliveries Direct sales Member States Deliveries Direct sales Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 173 800 4 499 193 28 045 684 699 817 6 007 564 24 036 290 5 386 575 10 298 399 270 788 11 102 647 2 571 473 1 854 186 2 418 573 3 333 030 United Kingdom 14 539 569 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 216 078 Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden 3 190 352 4 521 470 28 185 008 699 817 6 007 564 24 157 469 5 386 575 10 298 399 272 134 11 158 020 2 585 220 1 863 548 2 430 596 3 349 545 169 735 708 97 780 696 109 386 441 866 9 189 231 661 951 82 792 205 422 37 000 10 000 3 000 United Kingdom 14 612 520 216 078’