Commission Regulation (EC) No 2182/2005Show full title

Article 1 U.K.

Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 is amended as follows:

1.

In Article 1(1), the following points are added:

‘(q)

crop specific payment for cotton provided for in Chapter 10a of Title IV of that Regulation;

(r)

aid for olive groves provided for in Chapter 10b of Title IV of that Regulation;

(s)

tobacco aid provided for in Chapter 10c of Title IV of that Regulation.’

2.

In the first paragraph of Article 3, point (a) is replaced by the following:

‘(a)

by 15 September of the year concerned at the latest: the available data on the areas, or the quantities in the case of the dairy premium, additional payment, seeds and tobacco, provided for in Articles 95, 96, 99 and 110k of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, for which the aid has been claimed for that calendar year, where the case may be subdivided by sub-base area;’

3.

In Article 21, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1. Without prejudice to Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the aid for potato starch shall be paid, by the Member State on whose territory is situated the holding delivering the potatoes for the manufacturing of the potato starch, per farmer once all his quantities for the marketing year have been delivered to the starch-producing undertaking within four months from the date on which the proof referred to in Article 20 of this Regulation has been provided and the conditions referred to in Article 19 of this Regulation have been respected.’

4.

The following Article 49a is inserted:

‘Article 49a Advance payments

Member Sates may grant advance payments to seed growers as from 1 December of the marketing year. Such payment shall be proportional to the quantity of seeds already marketed for sowing within the meaning of Article 49 provided that all the conditions of Chapter 10 are complied with.’

5.

The following Chapter 17a is inserted:

‘CHAPITRE 17aCROP-SPECIFIC PAYMENTS FOR COTTON

Article 171a Authorisation of agricultural land for cotton production

The Member States shall establish objective criteria on the basis of which land is authorised for the crop-specific payment for cotton provided for in Article 110a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

These criteria shall be based on one or more of the following:

(a)

the agricultural economy of those regions where cotton is a major crop;

(b)

the soil and climate in the areas in question;

(c)

the management of irrigation water;

(d)

rotation systems and cultivation methods likely to respect the environment.

Article 171aa Authorisation of varieties for sowing

The Member States shall authorise the varieties registered in the Community catalogue that are adapted to market needs.

Article 171ab Eligibility requirements

Sowing the areas referred to in Article 110b(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be done by achieving a minimum plant density, to be fixed by the Member State on the basis of the soil and weather conditions and specific regional characteristics, where appropriate.

Article 171ac Agronomic practices

The Member States shall be authorised to establish specific rules on the agronomic practices needed to maintain the crops under normal growing conditions, with the exception of harvesting operations.

Article 171ad Calculating the amount of aid per eligible hectare

1. Notwithstanding Article 171ag of this Regulation, in the case of Spain and Portugal, if the area under cotton eligible for the aid payment exceeds the national base area fixed in Article 110c(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the amount of aid laid down in paragraph 2 of that Article shall be multiplied by a reduction coefficient, obtained by dividing the base area by the eligible area.

2. Notwithstanding Article 171ag of this Regulation, in the case of Greece, if the area under cotton eligible for the aid payment exceeds 300 000 hectares, the amount of aid payable per hectare shall be obtained by multiplying EUR 594 by 300 000 hectares, adding an additional amount multiplied by the area exceeding 300 000 and then dividing that sum by the total area eligible.

The additional amount referred to in the first paragraph shall be:

• EUR 342,85 if the eligible area exceeds 300 000 but is equal to or less than 370 000 hectares,

• EUR 342,85 multiplied by a reduction coefficient equal to 70 000 divided by the number of eligible hectares exceeding 300 000, if the eligible area exceeds 370 000 hectares.

Article 171ae Authorisation of inter-branch organisations

Before 31 December each year, Member States shall authorise for the following year any inter-branch cotton-producing organisation that applies to plant cotton and which:

(a)

covers a total area of at least 10 000 ha as established by the Member State and meeting the authorisation criteria laid down in Article 171a, and which includes at least one ginning undertaking;

(b)

conducts clearly identified measure geared in particular towards:

• improving the commercial value of the unginned cotton produced,

• improving the quality of unginned cotton meeting the ginner’s needs,

• using environmentally-sensitive production methods;

(c)

has adopted internal operating rules, in particular on:

• membership conditions and fees, in accordance with national and Community rules and regulations,

• where appropriate, a scale differentiating the aid by parcel category, established in particular on the basis of the quality of the unginned cotton to be supplied.

For 2006, however, Member States shall authorise the inter-branch cotton-producing organisations by 28 February 2006.

Article 171af The producers’ obligations

1. A producer shall not be a member of more than one inter-branch organisation.

2. A producer who is a member of an inter-branch organisation shall deliver his cotton to a ginner belonging to that same organisation.

3. The participation of producers in an approved inter-branch organisation must be the result of voluntary membership.

Article 171ag Aid differentiation

1. By including the increase provided for in Article 110f(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the scale referred to in Article 110e of that Regulation (hereinafter the scale) shall establish:

(a) the aid amounts per eligible hectare that a member producer is eligible to receive based on the classification of his parcels in the established categories referred to in paragraph 2;

(b) the method for each parcel category, in accordance with paragraph 2, of allocating the entire sum reserved for differentiating the aid.

For the purposes of applying point (a) the basic amount shall be at least equal to the non-differentiated part of the eligible aid per hectare laid down in Article 110c(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, adapted, if appropriate, in accordance with paragraph 3 of that Article.

The calculation referred to in point (a) shall also apply in cases where no cotton is delivered to the ginner. In that case the minimum aid per eligible hectare that the member producer is to receive shall be at least equal to the non-differentiated part of the aid per eligible hectare laid down in Article 110c(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, adapted, if appropriate, in accordance with paragraph 3 of that Article.

2. The parcels shall be classified into several categories, established by the inter-branch organisations on the basis of at least one of the following quality criteria:

(a) length of the cotton fibre produced;

(b) the cotton’s moisture content;

(c) the cotton’s average impurity content.

The scale shall lay down the procedures for evaluating each parcel against the criteria and for classifying it in one of the established categories.

In no case shall the scale include criteria associated with an increase in production or the cotton’s placement on the market.

In order to apply the scale, all the parcels belonging to a single producer may be considered as being of the same average parcel category and producing the same quality cotton.

3. If necessary, in order to classify unginned cotton within the scale by parcel category, it shall be analysed on the basis of representative samples upon its delivery to the ginning undertaking, in the presence of all the parties concerned.

4. The inter-branch organisation shall notify the paying agency of the amount to be paid to each of its producers, based on the application of the scale. The paying agency shall make payment once it has checked the conformity and eligibility of the aid amounts in question.

Article 171ah Approval and amendment of the scale

1. The scale shall be notified for the first time to the Member State in question, with a view to its approval by 28 February 2006 for the 2006 sowing season.

The Member State may decide to approve or reject the scale within one month of its transmission.

2. Before 31 January, approved inter-branch organisations shall notify the Member State concerned of amendments made to the scale for sowings in the current year.

The amendments made to the scale shall be deemed approved, unless the Member State receives objections within one month of the date laid down the first paragraph.

Should the amendments made to the scale not be approved, the aid payable shall be that calculated on the basis of the scale actually approved, with no account being taken of the unapproved amendments.

3. If the inter-branch organisation decides to suspend application of the scale, it shall inform the Member State accordingly. The suspension shall take effect for the following year’s sowing season.

Article 171ai Communications to the producers and Commission

1. Before January 31 of the year in question, Member States shall notify cotton growers and the Commission of:

(a) the approved varieties; however, varieties approved in accordance with Article 171aa after that date must be notified to the growers before 15 March in the same year;

(b) the criteria for approving land;

(c) the minimum cotton plant density referred to in Article 171ab;

(d) the required agronomic practices.

2. Where approval for a variety is withdrawn, the Member States shall inform the growers no later than 31 January for the purposes of the following year’s sowing season.

3. The Member States shall send the Commission the following information:

(a) no later than 30 April of the year concerned, the names of the approved inter-branch organisations and their main features as regards their land area, production potential, number of growers, number of ginners and ginning potential;

(b) no later than 15 September of the year concerned, the area planted to cotton for which applications for the crop-specific cotton payment have been lodged;

(c) no later than 31 July of the following year, the final data corresponding to the areas or quantities planted for which the specific cotton aid has actually been paid for the year concerned, after, where applicable, the deduction of the reductions in area provided for in Part II, Title IV, Chapter 1 of Regulation (EC) No 796/2004.’

6.

The following Chapter 17b is inserted:

‘CHAPTER 17b U.K. AID FOR OLIVE GROVES

Article 171b Categories of olive groves

1. The Member States shall identify the olive groves eligible for the aid laid down in Article 110g of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and shall classify them in a maximum of five categories on the basis of criteria chosen from among the following:

(a) environmental criteria:

(i)

difficulty of access to the parcels;

(ii)

risk of physical degradation of the land;

(iii)

olive groves with special features: old trees, cultural value or value for the landscape, sloping land, traditional or rare varieties, or situated in protected natural areas;

(b) social criteria:

(i)

areas with a heavy economic dependence on olive-growing;

(ii)

areas with a tradition of olive cultivation;

(iii)

areas with negative economic indicators;

(iv)

holdings at risk of abandoning olive groves;

(v)

the size of olive groves on a holding;

(vi)

areas with special features such a PDO or PGI production, organic or integrated farming.

2. Member States shall determine, for each farmer concerned, which of the categories listed in paragraph 1 each olive-growing parcel eligible for aid belongs to. This information shall be recorded in the olive GIS.

3. Member States may adjust the categories of olive groves identified under paragraph 1 once a year.

Where the adjustment of categories results in a reclassification of the olive groves, the new classification shall apply from the year following that in which the adjustment takes place.

Article 171ba Calculation of areas

1. The Member States shall calculate for each producer the area eligible for the aid using the common methodology set out in Annex XXIV.

The areas shall be declared in olive GIS-ha to two decimal places.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the common methodology set out in Annex XXIV shall not apply when:

(a) the olive-growing parcel is of a minimum size, to be determined by the Member State but not exceeding 0,1 hectare;

(b) the olive-growing parcel is located in an administrative unit that does not appear in the olive-GIS’s graphical reference database.

In this case, the Member State shall determine the olive-growing area on the basis of objective criteria and in a manner ensuring equal treatment of farmers.

Article 171bb Amount of aid

1. The Member States shall establish before 31 January each year the indicative amount of aid per olive GIS-ha for each category of olive grove.

2. The Member States shall fix, before 31 October of the year in question, the amount of aid per olive GIS-ha for each category of olive grove.

This amount shall be calculated by multiplying the indicative amount referred to in paragraph 1 by a coefficient which corresponds to the maximum amount of aid laid down in Article 110i(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, taking into account, where applicable, the reduction provided for in paragraph 4 of that Article, divided by the sum of the amounts produced by multiplying the indicative aid amount referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, laid down for each category, by the corresponding area.

3. Member States may apply paragraphs 1 and 2 on a regional basis.

Article 171bc Establishing the basic data

1. For the purpose of applying Article 110h(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States shall use data from the olive GIS and of farmers’ declarations to establish on 1 January 2005 the following information for each olive-growing parcel: number and location of eligible olive trees, number and location of ineligible olive trees, the olive-growing area and eligible area of the olive-growing parcel as well as the relevant category referred to in Article 171b.

2. In the case of areas planted with olive trees under new plantation programmes in France and Portugal, approved by the Commission under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98(1), and recorded in the olive GIS before 1 January 2007, the Member States shall establish the information referred to in paragraph 1, as at 1 January 2006 for parcels planted in 2005 and as at 1 January 2007 for parcels planted in 2006. This information shall be notified to farmers in the 2007 single application at the latest.

Article 171bd Communications

Member States shall communicate to the Commission each year:

(a)

not later than 15 September: information on the olive-growing areas for which aid has been applied for in the current year, by category;

(b)

not later than 31 October:

(i)

information on the areas referred to in point (a) considered eligible for aid, taking into account the reductions or corrections provided for in Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 796/2004;

(ii)

the amount of aid to be granted for each category of olive groves;

(c)

not later than 31 July: the final data on the olive-growing areas for which aid was actually paid in the previous year, by category.’

7.

The following Chapter 17c is inserted:

‘CHAPTER 17c U.K. TOBACCO AID

Article 171c Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

(a)

“delivery” means any operation taking place on a given day which involves a farmer or a producer association handing over raw tobacco to a processing undertaking under a cultivation contract;

(b)

“control certificate” means the document issued by the competent control body certifying that the quantity of tobacco concerned has been taken over by the first processor, that this quantity has been delivered under a registered contract and that the operations have been carried out in accordance with Articles 171cj and 171ck of this Regulation;

(c)

“first processor” means any approved natural or legal person who carries out first processing of raw tobacco by operation, in his own name and on his own account, of one or more first tobacco processing establishments suitably equipped for that purpose;

(d)

“first processing” means the processing of raw tobacco delivered by a farmer into a stable, storable product put up in uniform bales or packages of a quality meeting final user (manufacturer) requirements;

(e)

“producer association” means an association representing farmers producing tobacco.

Article 171ca Raw tobacco variety groups

Raw tobacco varieties shall be classified in the following groups:

(a)

flue-cured: tobacco dried in ovens with controlled air circulation, temperature and humidity;

(b)

light air-cured: tobacco dried in the air under cover;

(c)

dark air-cured: tobacco dried in the air under cover, fermented before being marketed;

(d)

fire-cured: tobacco dried by fire;

(e)

sun-cured: tobacco dried in the sun;

(f)

Basmas (sun-cured);

(g)

Katerini (sun-cured);

(h)

Kaba-Koulak (classic) and similar (sun-cured).

The varieties in each group are listed in Annex XXV.

Article 171cb First processors

1. Member States shall approve first processors established on their territory and shall establish the appropriate conditions for such approval.

An approved first processor is authorised to sign cultivation contracts, provided it sells at least 60 % of its marketed tobacco of Community origin to tobacco manufacturing undertakings either directly, or indirectly without further processing.

2. Approval shall be withdrawn by the Member State if the processor, deliberately or through serious negligence, fails to comply with the provisions concerning raw tobacco at Community or at national level.

Article 171cc Production areas

For each group of varieties, the production areas referred to in Article 110k(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be those laid down in Annex XXVI to this Regulation.

Member States may specify more restricted production areas, especially in the interests of quality. Restricted production areas may not exceed the area of the administrative unit or, in France, the canton.

Article 171cd Cultivation contracts

1. Cultivation contracts referred to in Article 110k(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be concluded between a first processor, on the one hand, and a farmer or a producer association representing him on the other hand, provided that the producer association is recognised by the Member State concerned.

2. Cultivation contracts shall be concluded by variety or group of varieties. They shall commit the first processor to taking delivery of the quantity of leaf tobacco provided for in the contract and the farmer or the producer association representing him to deliver that quantity to the first processor, to the extent that their actual production so allows.

3. For each harvest, cultivation contracts shall include at least the following details:

(a) the names and addresses of the parties to the contract;

(b) the variety and group of varieties of tobacco covered by the contract;

(c) the maximum quantity to be delivered;

(d) the exact location where the tobacco is produced: the production area as referred to in Article 171cc, province, municipality, identification of the parcel under the integrated control system;

(e) the area of the parcel concerned, excluding service roads and enclosures;

(f) the purchase price according to quality grade, excluding the aid, any service charges and taxes;

(g) the minimum quality requirements agreed per quality grade, with a minimum of three grades per position on the stalk, and an undertaking by the farmer to deliver to the processor raw tobacco by quality grade meeting at least those quality requirements;

(h) a commitment by the first processor to pay the farmer the purchase price according to quality grade;

(i) the time-limit for payment of the purchase price, which may not exceed 30 days from the date of delivery;

(j) an undertaking by the farmer to replant the tobacco on the parcel concerned by 20 June of the harvest year.

4. If replanting is delayed beyond the date of 20 June, the farmer shall inform the processor and the competent authority of the Member State thereof by registered letter before that date, giving the reason for the delay and giving details of any change of parcel.

5. The parties to a cultivation contract may, by means of a written amendment, increase the quantities initially specified in the contract. The amendment shall be submitted for registration to the competent authority not later than the 40th day following the deadline for concluding cultivation contracts referred to in Article 171ce(1).

Article 171ce Conclusion and registration of contracts

1. Cultivation contracts shall be concluded, except in cases of force majeure, by 30 April of the harvest year. Member States may fix an earlier date.

2. Except in cases of force majeure, cultivation contracts once concluded shall be submitted for registration to the competent body no later than 15 days after the deadline for concluding them referred to in paragraph 1.

The competent body shall be that of the Member State in which processing is to take place.

Where processing is to take place in a Member State other than that in which the tobacco was grown, the competent body of the Member State in which processing is to take place shall immediately send a copy of the registered contract to the competent body of the producer Member State. If that body does not itself carry out checks on the aid system, it shall send a copy of the registered contract to the competent control body.

3. If the deadline for the conclusion of contracts referred to in paragraph 1 or for the submission of cultivation contracts provided for in paragraph 2 is exceeded by a maximum of 15 days, the aid to be paid shall be reduced by 20 %.

Article 171cf Contracts with a producer association

1. Where a cultivation contract is concluded between a first processor and a producer association, it shall be accompanied by a list containing the names of the farmers concerned and their respective maximum quantity to be delivered, exact parcel location and the area of the parcels concerned, as referred to Article 171cd(3)(c), (d) and (e).

That list shall be submitted for registration to the competent body no later than 15 May of the harvest year.

2. Producer associations referred to in paragraph 1 may not carry out first processing of tobacco.

3. Farmers producing tobacco may not belong to more than one producer association.

Article 171cg Minimum quality requirements

Tobacco delivered to processors shall be of sound, fair and merchantable quality and free from any of the characteristics listed in Annex XXVII. Stricter quality requirements may be established by the Member State or may be agreed on by contracting parties.

Article 171ch Disputes

The Member States may provide that disputes concerning the quality of tobacco delivered to the first processor shall be submitted to an arbitration body. The Member States shall lay down the rules governing the membership and the decision-making procedures of such bodies. Arbitration bodies must include one or more representatives of producers and processors, in equal numbers.

Article 171ci Aid level

In application of Article 110k(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, Member States shall fix the indicative aid amount per kg by tobacco variety or group of varieties before 15 March of the harvest year. Member States may differentiate the aid level depending on the quality of the tobacco delivered. For each variety or group of varieties, the aid level shall not exceed the premium amount by group of varieties fixed for the 2005 harvest by Council Regulation (EC) No 546/2002(2).

The Member States shall fix the final aid amount per kg by tobacco variety or group of varieties within 15 working days following the day on which all tobacco for the harvest concerned has been delivered. If the total amount of aid applied for in a Member State exceeds the national ceiling established in Article 110l of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, as adjusted in accordance with Article 110m of that Regulation, the Member State shall proceed to a linear reduction of the amounts paid to each farmer.

Article 171cj Calculation of the aid payment

1. The aid to be paid to farmers shall be calculated on the basis of the weight of leaf tobacco of the variety or group of varieties concerned corresponding to the minimum quality required and taken over by the first processor.

2. Where the moisture content differs from the level laid down in Annex XXVIII for the variety concerned, the weight shall be adjusted for each percentage point of difference, within the tolerances laid down in that Annex.

3. The methods for determining moisture content, sampling levels and frequency and the method for calculating the adjusted weight shall be as set out in Annex XXIX.

Article 171ck Delivery

1. Except in cases of force majeure, farmers shall deliver their entire production to the first processor by 30 April of the year following the year of harvest, failing which they shall lose their entitlement to the aid. Member States may fix an earlier date.

2. The delivery shall be made either directly to the place where the tobacco will be processed or, if the Member State so authorises, to an approved purchasing centre. The competent control body shall approve such purchasing centres, which shall have the appropriate facilities, weighing scales and premises.

3. If the unprocessed tobacco has not been delivered to the places referred to in paragraph 2, or the transporter conveying distinct quantities of tobacco from the purchasing centre to the processing plant does not have authorisation to effect transport, the first processing undertaking which received the tobacco concerned shall pay the Member State a sum of money equal to the aid for the quantity of tobacco in question. This amount shall be booked to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Article 171cl Payment

The Member State’s competent body shall pay the aid to the farmer on the basis of a control certificate issued by the competent control body certifying that the tobacco has been delivered.

Article 171cm Advances

1. By way of derogation from Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 796/2004, Member States may apply a system of advances on tobacco aid for farmers.

2. Farmers’ applications for an advance may be submitted after 16 September of the year of the harvest. They shall be accompanied by the following documents, save where a Member State provides otherwise on the grounds that they are already in its possession:

(a) a copy of the cultivation contract or its registration number;

(b) a written declaration from the farmer concerned specifying the quantities of tobacco he is in a position to deliver during the current harvest.

3. Payment of the advance, the maximum amount of which shall be equal to 50 % of the aid amount payable, based on the indicative aid level fixed in accordance with Article 171ci shall be subject to the lodging of a security equal to the amount of the advance plus 15 % of the amount of the advance.

The security shall be released when the total aid amount has been paid in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85.

4. The advance shall be paid from 16 October of the year of the harvest and within 30 days of submission of the application referred to in paragraph 2 and of proof that the security referred to in paragraph 3 has been lodged.

The advance paid shall be deducted from the amount of the tobacco aid payable under Article 171cl .

5. Member States shall determine any further conditions governing the grant of advances, and in particular the final date for lodging applications. Farmers may not lodge an application for an advance once they have begun making deliveries.

Article 171cn Cross-border processing

1. Aid shall be paid or advanced by the Member State in which the tobacco was produced.

2. Where tobacco is processed in a Member State other than that in which it was produced, the processing Member State shall, after carrying out the necessary checks, provide the producer Member State with all the information needed to enable it to pay the aid or release the security.

Article171co Notifications to the Commission

1. Each Member State concerned shall notify the Commission by 31 January of each harvest year at the latest of:

(a) the names and addresses of the bodies responsible for the registration of cultivation contracts;

(b) the names and addresses of the approved first-processing undertakings.

The Commission shall publish the list of the bodies responsible for the registration of cultivation contracts and of approved first-processing undertakings in the ‘C’ series of the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. Each Member State concerned shall immediately notify the Commission of the national measures taken to apply this Chapter.

Article 171cp Transitional measure

Without prejudice to any future amendments, producers whose tobacco production quotas were bought back during the 2002 and 2003 harvests in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 shall be entitled as from 1 January 2006, for the remainder of the five harvest years following the year in which their quota is bought back, to receive an amount equal to a percentage of the premium granted in respect of the 2005 harvest, as shown in the tables in Annex XXX. These amounts shall be paid before 31 May each year.’

8.

Article 172 is amended as followed:

(a)

The following paragraphs 3a and 3b are inserted:

‘3a. Regulation (EC) No 1591/2001 is hereby repealed. However, it shall continue to apply to the 2005/06 marketing year.

3b. Regulations (EEC) No 85/93 and (EC) No 2848/98 are repealed with effect from 1 January 2006. However they shall continue to apply in respect of the 2005 harvest.’

(b)

Paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:

‘4. References to the repealed acts shall be construed as references to this Regulation except for Regulation (EEC) No 85/93.’

9.

The text in the Annex to this Regulation is added as Annexes XXIV to XXX.

(1)

OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 32. Regulation repealed by Regulation (EC) No 865/2004 (OJ L 161, 30.4.2004, p. 97, as corrected by OJ L 206, 9.6.2004, p. 37).’

(2)

OJ L 84, 28.3.2002, p. 4.’