Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the difference between prices in international trade for the products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation and prices for those products within the Community may be covered by an export refund within the limits resulting from agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty.

• the existing situation and the future trend with regard to prices and availabilities of milk and milk products on the Community market and prices for milk and milk products in international trade,

• marketing costs and the most favourable transport charges from Community markets to ports or other points of export in the Community, as well as costs incurred in placing the goods on the market of the country of destination,

• the aims of the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products which are to ensure equilibrium and the natural development of prices and trade on this market,

• the limits resulting from agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty, and

• the need to avoid disturbances on the Community market, and

• the economic aspect of the proposed exports.

1. (a)

   prices ruling on third-country markets;

2. (b)

   the most favourable prices in third countries of destination for third-country imports;

3. (c)

   producer prices recorded in exporting third countries, account being taken, where appropriate, of subsidies granted by those countries; and

4. (d)

   free-at-Community-frontier offer prices.

Article 31(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund on the products listed in Article 1 of the abovementioned Regulation according to destination.

Article 31(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the list of products on which export refunds are granted and the amount of such refunds should be fixed at least once every four weeks; the amount of the refund may, however, remain at the same level for more than four weeks.

For the calculation of the refund for processed cheese provision must be made where casein or caseinates are added for that quantity not to be taken into account.

It follows from applying the rules set out above to the present situation on the market in milk and in particular to quotations or prices for milk products within the Community and on the world market that the refund should be as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,