Council Regulation (EC) No 1513/2001 of 23 July 2001 amending Regulations No 136/66/EEC and (EC) No 1638/98 as regards the extension of the period of validity of the aid scheme and the quality strategy for olive oil

• Published date: 26 July 2001
• Subject Matter: Oils and fats
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Communities, L 201, 26 July 2001

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32001R1513

Council Regulation (EC) No 1513/2001 of 23 July 2001 amending Regulations No 136/66/EEC and (EC) No 1638/98 as regards the extension of the period of validity of the aid scheme and the quality strategy for olive oil

Official Journal L 201 , 26/07/2001 P. 0004 - 0007

Council Regulation (EC) No 1513/2001

of 23 July 2001

amending Regulations No 136/66/EEC and (EC) No 1638/98 as regards the extension of the period of validity of the aid scheme and the quality strategy for olive oil

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common market organisation in oils and fats(3) introduced measures applicable for three marketing years, namely 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01. This three-year period was intended to give the Commission time to gather and analyse the information required with a view to elaborate, in 2000, a proposal to the Council for a reform of the above-mentioned common market organisation. While the measures introduced by this Regulation have permitted a number of improvements to the common organisation of the market, the information gathered and the experience gained during those first two marketing years are neither complete nor sufficient to enable the Commission to draw substantial and definitive conclusions regarding the common market organisation in oils and fats to be implemented from 1 November 2001.

(2) It is necessary to assess the results of the transitional period envisaged in 1998 by Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1639/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2261/84 laying down general rules on the granting of aid for the production of olive oil and of aid to olive oil producer organisations(4). In order to obtain all the results of the measures implemented from the 1998/99 marketing year onwards and to permit more detailed information to be gathered on the sector and more detailed analyses to be carried out, it is necessary to extend until the end of the 2003/04 marketing year the period of validity of the provisions currently in force, in particular those laid down in Regulation No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats(5).

(3) The arrangements for checks on the aid paid to producers depend to a great extent on the existence and smooth operation of the geographic information system (GIS) referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1638/98. The GIS is essential for some of the options to be examined for the future and, at the very least, useful for the others. It should therefore be stipulated now that from 1 November 2003 the aid scheme covers only olive trees included in a GIS verified as being complete.

(4) Developments on the olive oil market indicate the need for a concerted strategy aimed at improving the quality of the product, including environmental impacts, and comprising, inter alia, incentives to promote the structuring of the sector and adjustments to the classification of olive oils and olive-pomace oils.

(5) For the sector to operate smoothly, a scheme should be introduced to encourage approved operators' organisations to implement quality improvement and certification programmes and to improve the olive oil sector and market management. Around one year would appear necessary for the establishment of the detailed...