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 of 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)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 948/2014 opened private storage for skimmed milk powder in view of the particular difficult market situation, notably resulting from the ban introduced by Russia on imports of dairy products from the Union.
(2)
That private storage scheme has been extended by Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1337/2014, (EU) 2015/303, (EU) 2015/1548 and (EU) 2016/224. As a result, applications for aid can be lodged until 30 September 2016.
(3)
On 29 June 2016, Russia prolonged the ban on the import of agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the Union until the end of 2017.
(4)
The production of skimmed milk powder in the Union increased by 18 % in the period from January to April 2016 as a result of increased milk production, while exports declined by 8 % in the same period. Exports of skimmed milk powder traditionally represent some 40 to 50 % of the total skimmed milk powder production in the Union.
(5)
As a consequence, prices of skimmed milk powder in the Union continue to be under downward pressure.
(6)
In view of the current market situation it is appropriate to secure the undisrupted availability of the private storage aid scheme for skimmed milk powder and to extend it until the start of the 2017 intervention period on 1 March 2017.
(7)
In order to avoid any interruption of the possibility for lodging applications under the scheme, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: