Hops: common organisation of the market CMO (repeal. Regulations (EEC) Nos 1037/72, 1981/82, 879/79 and 1696/71)

2005/0162(CNS)

PURPOSE: to repeal Council Regulation 1696/71/EEC, Council Regulation 1037/72/EEC, Council Regulation 1981/82/EEC and Council Regulation 879/73/EEC and modify Regulation 1782/2003/EC concerning the common organisation of the market in hops

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation

CONTENT: Council Regulation 1696/71/EEC on the common organisation of the market in hops has been substantially amended several times. In view of this, and in particular the amendments under Council Regulation 1782/2003/EC establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, Regulation 1696/71/EEC should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation, for the sake of clarity and a proper understanding of Community legislation. Council Regulation 1037/72/EEC laying down general rules for granting and financing aid for hop producers, the provisions of which are incorporated in Regulation 1782/2003/EC, should also be repealed. Council Regulation 1981/82/EEC drawing up the list of Community regions, in which production aid for hops is granted only to recognised producer groups, and Council Regulation 879/73/EEC on the granting and reimbursement of aid accorded by the Member States to recognised producer groups in the hop sector have become obsolete following the adoption of Regulation 1782/2003/EC and can also be repealed.

The new Regulation will replace the various regulations incorporated in Regulation 1696/71, retaining and rearranging its contents. A number of articles have also been amended slightly to bring the Regulation up to date. In particular, account has been taken of the changed role of producer groups, who no longer participate in the management of the aid. Although annual or multi-annual contracts continue to play a major role in the marketing of hops and helping to ensure market stability, and the mutual exchange of information between

the Member States and the Commission has been retained, the official registration of contracts is no longer necessary. The rules on trade with third countries have also been updated. This proposal has been drawn up on the basis of a consolidation of the text of Regulation 1696/71/EEC in all the official languages and the acts amending it. Where articles have been renumbered, the concordance between the previous and new numbering is set out in the correlation table annexed to the Regulation.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS :

Budget heading: 05 02 11 03 Appropriations: EUR 13 million