THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007, and in particular Article 18(2), Article 20(c), (f), (l), (m) and (n), and Article 223(3)(c) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 of 16 December 2013 determining measures on fixing certain aids and refunds related to the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and in particular Article 4 thereof,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008, and in particular Article 62(2)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Article 17(g) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides for the granting of private storage aid for skimmed milk powder.
(2)
On 7 August 2014, the Russian government introduced a ban on imports of certain products from the Union to Russia, including dairy products. Developments in prices and stocks of skimmed milk powder indicate a particular difficult market situation which may be eliminated or reduced by storage. In view of the current market situation, it is appropriate to grant aid for private storage for skimmed milk powder and to fix the amount of aid in advance.
(3)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 has established common rules for the implementation of a private storage aid scheme.
(4)
Pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008, aid fixed in advance is to be granted in accordance with the detailed rules and conditions provided for in Chapter III of that Regulation.
(5)
In accordance with Article 16(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 and in order to ensure placing of homogeneous and manageable lots in storage it is appropriate to specify the requirements for a ‘storage lot’.
(6)
For reasons of administrative efficiency and simplification, and since the required information concerning storage details is already included in the application for aid, it is appropriate to waive the request to supply the same information after the conclusion of the contract as provided for in point (a) of the first paragraph of Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008.
(7)
For reasons of simplification and logistic efficiency, Member States should be allowed to waive the requirement to mark the contract number on each unit stored where the contracts number is entered in the stores register.
(8)
For reasons of administrative efficiency and simplification, taking into account the particular situation for skimmed milk powder storage, the checks provided for in Article 36(6) of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 should be carried out in respect of at least one half of the contracts. Consequently, a derogation from that Article should be provided for.
(9)
In accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 the aid for private storage fixed in advance should be based on storage costs and/or other relevant market elements. It is appropriate to set an aid for fixed storage costs for entry and exit of the products concerned and an aid per day of storage for costs for storage and financing.
(10)
In accordance with Article 35(3) of Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 and in order to closely follow the use of the measure it is appropriate to specify the deadline for submitting the notifications provided for in Article 35(1)(a) of that Regulation.
(11)
In order to have an immediate impact on the market and to contribute to stabilise prices, the temporary measure provided for in this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication.
(12)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: