Commission Regulation (EU) No 1272/2009 of 11 December 2009 laying down common detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards buying-in and selling of agricultural products under public intervention (repealed) (c. 1272)

ANNEX IV BUTTER

PART III Criteria for the approval of undertakings referred to in Article 10(1)(e) and (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (common part for butter and skimmed milk powder)

1. Undertakings as referred to in Article 10(1)(e) and (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be approved only if they:

(a)

are approved in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and have the appropriate technical equipment;

(b)

undertake to keep permanent records in the form determined by the competent body of each Member State, listing the supplier and origin of the raw materials, for butter the quantities of butter obtained and for milk powder the quantities of skimmed-milk powder, buttermilk and whey obtained and the packaging, identification and exit date of each production batch intended for public intervention;

(c)

agree to submit their production of butter and skimmed milk powder liable to be offered for intervention to a specific official inspection;

(d)

undertake to inform the competent body, at least two working days in advance, of their intention to produce butter and skimmed milk powder for public intervention; however, the Member State may set a shorter time limit.

2. To ensure compliance with this Regulation, the competent body shall carry out unannounced on-the-spot inspections, on the basis of the intervention butter and skimmed milk powder production schedule of the undertakings concerned.

They shall carry out at least:

(a)

one inspection per period of 28 days of production for intervention with at least one inspection every year, to examine the records referred to in point 1(b);

(b)

one inspection every year, to verify compliance with the other conditions for approval referred to in point 1.

3. Approval shall be withdrawn if the preconditions laid down in point 1(a) are no longer satisfied. Approval may be re-granted at the request of the undertaking concerned after a period of at least six months, following a thorough inspection.

Except in cases of force majeure, where an undertaking is found not to have complied with one of its commitments as referred to in point 1(b), (c) and (d), approval shall be suspended for a period of between one and 12 months depending on the seriousness of the irregularity.

The Member State shall not impose suspension where it is established that the irregularity was not committed deliberately or as a result of serious negligence and it is of minor importance with regard to the effectiveness of the inspections provided for in point 2.

4. A report shall be drawn up on the inspections carried out pursuant to points 2 and 3, specifying:

(a)

the date of the inspection;

(b)

the duration of the inspections;

(c)

the operations carried out.

The report shall be signed by the inspector responsible.