Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1240Show full title

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1240 of 18 May 2016 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to public intervention and aid for private storage (Text with EEA relevance)

TITLE IU.K.GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER IU.K.Introductory provision

Article 1U.K.Scope

1.This Regulation lays down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 as regards:

(a)the buying-in and selling from public intervention of products listed in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013;

(b)the granting of aid for private storage for products listed in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

[F12.This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to specific provisions laid down in—

(a)the published tendering procedure for the buying-in of products or opening the sale of products from intervention; or

(b)the published tendering procedure for private storage or the Regulations fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance.]

[F2Article 1AU.K.Definitions

In this Regulation—

  • appropriate authority” means—

    • — in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

    • — in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

    • — in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

    • — in relation to Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs;

but the appropriate authority is the Secretary of State if consent is given by—

  • — in relation to Wales, for the purposes of Articles 11, 14, 32, 43 and 45 only, the Welsh Ministers;

  • — in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

  • — in relation to Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.]

CHAPTER IIU.K.General common rules

Article 2U.K.Submission and admissibility of offers, tenders and applications

1.Operators shall lodge offers and tenders for public intervention as well as tenders and applications for aid for private storage using the method made available by the paying agency F3....

2.An offer, tender or application shall be admissible if it is submitted in [F4English, or in the case of operators from Wales, English or Welsh], and shall include, on a form made available by the paying agency, at least the following information:

(a)the operator's name, address and [F5United Kingdom VAT registration number];

(b)the product, or type of product, covered with its relevant CN code, if applicable;

(c)the quantity offered, tendered or applied for, subject to the minimum quantities laid down in Article 5, if applicable.

3.The offer, tender or application shall not include any additional conditions introduced by the operator other than those laid down in this Regulation or in the relevant [F6published tendering procedure or the Regulation] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance.

4.Where the time limit for the submission of offers, tenders or applications is a public holiday, the offers, tenders or applications shall be submitted at the latest on the last working day preceding the public holiday.

5.Offers, tenders or applications submitted on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday shall be deemed to be received by the paying agency on the first working day following the day on which they were submitted.

6.Offers, tenders or applications shall not be withdrawn or amended after their submission.

7.The paying agency shall register the admissible offers, tenders or applications and the quantities concerned on the day on which they are received.

8.The rights and obligations resulting from the acceptance of the offer, tender or application shall not be transferable.

[F79.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

TITLE IIU.K.PUBLIC INTERVENTION

CHAPTER IU.K.Specific rules related to public intervention

Article 3U.K.Intervention storage places

1.Each intervention storage place (‘storage place’) shall have a minimum storage capacity of:

(a)for cereals: 5 000 tonnes, 7 500 tonnes from the public intervention period 2017/18, 10 000 tonnes from the 2018/19 period, 15 000 tonnes from the 2019/20 period;

(b)for rice: 5 000 tonnes, 7 500 tonnes from the public intervention period 2017/18, 10 000 tonnes from the 2018/19 period;

(c)for butter and skimmed milk powder: 400 tonnes, 600 tonnes from the 2017 public intervention period, 800 tonnes from the 2018 period.

[F8If the average annual production of cereals in the United Kingdom is less than 20 million tonnes, the appropriate authority may apply a minimum storage capacity of 10 000 tonnes from the 2019/20 period.]

2.For the purposes of this Article, the ‘minimum storage capacity’ means a minimum capacity which may not be available permanently, but is readily achievable during the period when buying-in might take place.

3.A paying agency may derogate from paragraph 1 only where it demonstrates that the minimum storage capacity specified in that paragraph is not available and where the replacement storage places have ready access to a river, a sea or a railway connection.

[F94.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 4U.K.Establishing the eligibility of products

1.The eligibility of products for public intervention shall be established in accordance with the methods laid down in the following provisions:

(a)for cereals: in Parts I, II, III and IV of Annex I;

(b)for rice: in Part I of Annex II;

(c)for beef: in Part I of Annex III;

[F10(d)for butter: in Parts I and Ia of Annex IV to this Regulation;]

[F10(e)for skimmed milk powder: in Parts I and Ia of Annex V to this Regulation.]

[F102.The methods to be used to determine the quality of cereals, butter and skimmed milk powder eligible for public intervention referred to in Annexes I, IV and V respectively, shall be those established by the latest versions of the relevant [F11domestic] or international standards, as the case may be, in force at least 6 months before the first day of the public intervention period as defined in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.]

[F123.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

CHAPTER IIU.K.Buying-in of products into intervention

Section 1U.K.General provisions

Article 5U.K.Minimum quantities of products offered or tendered

1.The minimum quantity of products offered or tendered for buying-in shall be:

(a)for common wheat, barley and maize: 160 tonnes;

(b)for durum wheat: 20 tonnes;

(c)for rice: 40 tonnes;

(d)for beef: 20 tonnes;

(e)for butter: 30 tonnes;

(f)for skimmed milk powder: 30 tonnes.

[F13If the United Kingdom has an average annual production of cereals of less than 20 million tonnes, the appropriate authority may decide to apply a minimum quantity of 120 tonnes for common wheat, barley and maize.].

2.A paying agency may set a minimum quantity higher than that provided for in paragraph 1 if justified by the conditions and practices of the wholesale trade or environmental rules in force in the [F14United Kingdom].

[F153.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 6U.K.Level of the security for buying-in of products

The level of the security required in accordance with Article 4(a) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 when submitting an offer or tender for the buying-in of products into public intervention shall be:

(a)

for cereals: EUR 20/tonne;

(b)

for rice: EUR 30/tonne;

(c)

for beef: EUR 300/tonne;

(d)

for butter: EUR 50/tonne;

(e)

for skimmed milk powder: EUR 50/tonne.

[F16This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 7U.K.Submission and admissibility of offers and tenders

1.An offer or tender shall be admissible if it complies with the requirements laid down in Article 2 and, in the case of a tendering procedure, in the [F17published] tendering procedure referred to in Article 12. It shall also meet the following conditions:

(a)it includes at least the following information:

(i)

for rice, an indication of the type and variety;

(ii)

except for beef, the place where the product is held at the time of the offer or tender;

(iii)

for cereals and rice, the storage place for which the offer or tender is made;

(iv)

for cereals and rice, the year of harvest and the area or areas of production in the [F18United Kingdom];

(v)

for butter and skimmed milk powder, the date of production;

(vi)

for butter and skimmed milk powder, the name and approval number of the approved undertaking in which it was produced;

(b)the operator has lodged a security in accordance with Article 4(a) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238;

(c)for cereals and rice, the operator has declared:

(i)

that the products are of [F19United Kingdom] origin;

(ii)

that the offer or tender refers to a homogeneous lot which, for rice, must comprise paddy rice of the same variety;

(iii)

whether any post-harvest treatment has been carried out or not, and, where appropriate, the name of the product used, that it has been applied in conformity with the conditions of use, and that the product is authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1).

2.For products other than beef, the operator may request on the form referred to in Article 2(2) that the product be taken over at the storage place where it is held at the time the offer or tender is submitted provided that the storage place fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 7(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 and in Article 3 of this Regulation.

[F203.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 8U.K.Verification of offers and tenders by the paying agency

1.The paying agencies shall decide on the admissibility of offers and tenders on the basis of the requirements laid down in Articles 2 and 7.

Where the paying agency decides that an offer or tender is inadmissible, it shall inform the operator concerned within three working days of the receipt of the offer or tender. For offers, if the operator does not receive such information, the offer is considered as being admissible.

2.As regards cereals and rice, the declarations referred to in Article 7(1)(c) may be checked for compliance by administrative means after the paying agency has verified that the offers or tenders are admissible, if necessary with the assistance of the paying agency competent for the storage place indicated by the operator, in accordance with Article 57(2).

[F213.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

F22Article 9U.K.Notifications of offers and tenders to the Commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 2U.K.Buying-in at fixed price

Article 10U.K.Submission of offers for buying-in of common wheat, butter and skimmed milk powder at fixed price

Offers may be submitted to the paying agency from the beginning of the public intervention periods laid down in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

[F23This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 11U.K.Measures for respecting the quantitative limitations

1.In order to comply with the quantitative limitations fixed in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013, the [F24appropriate authority] shall decide F25...:

(a)to close intervention buying-in at fixed price;

(b)where acceptance of the full quantity offered would lead to the maximum quantity being exceeded, to set an allocation coefficient applicable to the total quantity in the offers received and notified to the [F24appropriate authority] from each operator on the day of the decision;

(c)where appropriate, to reject pending offers submitted to the paying [F26agency].

[F27The appropriate authority shall decide in the case of offers—

(a)not later than each Thursday, considering the quantities of products, which during the preceding week, have been the subject of an admissible offer; and

(b)when the quantities offered approach the quantitative limits fixed in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013, on each working day, considering the quantities which have been the subject of an admissible offer up until 5 working days prior to the decision.]

For the purposes of this Article, when a date of [F28submission] is a public holiday for the [F24appropriate authority] the counting of the deadline shall start on the first working day after that public holiday. If such public holidays are included in the time period for the [F29appropriate authority's] decision, only working days shall be counted.

2.By way of derogation from Article 2(6), an operator to whom an allocation coefficient as referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 applies may withdraw his offer within five working days of the date of entry into force of the decision setting the allocation coefficient.

[F303.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Section 3U.K.Buying-in via a tendering procedure

Article 12U.K.Tendering procedure

1.[F31Where the appropriate authority decides to buy-in products under Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 or Article 3(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013, it must publish a tendering procedure. The tendering procedure must] contain, in particular, the following information:

(a)the products covered, and:

(i)

for rice, an indication of the type and variety;

(ii)

for beef, whether the tender is for the bought-in carcasses to be deboned or for storage without deboning;

(b)the period covered (‘tendering period’) and, if necessary, the different sub-periods during which the tenders can be submitted;

[F32(c)in the case of a restricted tendering procedure under Article 3(3) of Regulation (EU) No. 1370/2013, the region covered.]

[F332.The appropriate authority may open a tendering procedure for buying-in of beef by category or region on the basis of the two most recent weekly market prices recorded. The appropriate authority may close the tendering procedure on the basis of the most recent weekly market prices recorded.]

F343.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.With regard to rice, the tendering procedure may be restricted to specific varieties or one or more types of paddy rice, namely ‘round grain rice’, ‘medium grain rice’, ‘long grain rice A’ or ‘long grain rice B’, as defined in points (a), (b) or (c) of point I.2 of Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

5.With regard to beef, the following rules shall apply:

(a)the average market price by eligible category in [F35the United Kingdom] or in a region thereof shall take account of the prices for qualities U, R and O, expressed in quality R3 using the conversion coefficients set out in Part II of Annex III in the [F36United Kingdom] or the intervention region concerned;

(b)the average market prices shall be recorded in accordance with [F37Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184.];

(c)the average market price by eligible category in [F38the United Kingdom] or a region thereof shall be the average of the market prices for all the qualities referred to in point (b), weighted by the proportion each quality represents in the total number of slaughterings in [F39the United Kingdom] or region.

The United Kingdom shall consist of two intervention regions as follows:

(i)

region I: Great Britain;

(ii)

region II: Northern Ireland.

[F406.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Textual Amendments

Article 13U.K.Submission and admissibility of tenders

1.In addition to the general conditions laid down in Articles 2 and 7, a tender shall only be admissible if it indicates a proposed price in euro per unit of measurement of the product rounded to no more than two decimal places, exclusive of VAT.

In the case of cereals and rice, the price tendered per tonne of products shall be a price corresponding to the minimum quality for cereals defined in Part II of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 or to the standard quality for rice defined in Section A of Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, delivered to the storage place, not unloaded.

In the case of butter and skimmed milk powder, the tendered price shall be the price per 100 kg of products delivered to the loading bay of the storage place.

In the case of beef, tenders shall state the price quoted in accordance with Article 12(5)(a), expressed per tonne of products of quality R3, and if it relates to bone-in meat intended for deboning, or for storage without deboning.

2.Without prejudice to Article 15(2) of this Regulation, the price tendered shall not exceed the level of the public intervention price set out in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013.

[F413.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 14U.K.Decisions on the buying-in price

1.On the basis of the [F42admissible tenders, the appropriate authority] shall decide:

(a)not to fix a maximum buying-in price; or

(b)to fix a maximum buying-in price.

2.The decision referred to in paragraph 1 shall be published [F43by the appropriate authority].

[F443.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 15U.K.Individual decisions on tenders

1.Where no maximum buying-in price has been fixed, all tenders shall be rejected.

2.Where a maximum buying-in price has been fixed, the paying agency shall accept tenders which are equal to or lower than that amount. All the other tenders shall be rejected.

The paying agency shall only accept [F45admissible tenders].

3.The paying agency shall take the decisions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article after the publication of the decision of the [F46appropriate authority] referred to in Article 14(1).

The paying agency shall notify the operators of the outcome of their participation in the tendering procedure within three working days of the entry into force of that decision of the [F46appropriate authority].

This notification shall not be necessary when the tender is accepted, if the paying agency issues a delivery order as referred to in Article 17 within five working days of the entry into force of that decision of the [F46appropriate authority]. In case of such acceptance, no further extension of the time limit for the issue of the delivery order, as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 17(1), may be granted.

[F474.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 16U.K.Limitation of buying-in for beef

Where the [F48paying agency is] offered beef in quantities greater than they are able to take over, they may limit the buying-in to the quantities they can take over [F49in the United Kingdom] or in one of [F50the] intervention regions referred to in Article 12(5).

[F51The paying agency] shall ensure equal access for all parties concerned in the event of such limitation.

[F52This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Section 4U.K.Deliveries and transport costs

Article 17U.K.Delivery order

1.After the paying agency has checked the admissibility of the offer or tender in accordance with Articles 8 and 13, it shall issue the delivery order within five working days of the deadline referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 11(1) or of the entry into force of the decision referred to in Article 14(1).

The paying agency may decide to extend the time limit for the issue of the delivery order when it is necessary due to high quantities of cereals or rice accepted. However, the final date for delivery of the products shall not be later than 65 days after the deadline or entry into force referred to in the first subparagraph. In such cases the paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

2.The delivery order shall be dated and numbered and shall contain the following information:

(a)the quantity to be delivered;

(b)the final date for delivery of the products;

(c)the storage place to which the products shall be delivered;

(d)the price at which the offer or tender is accepted.

3.The delivery order shall be issued only for [F53the quantities included in the admissible offer or tender].

[F544.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 18U.K.Specific provisions for the delivery of cereals and rice

1.The paying agency shall designate the storage place to which the cereals or rice shall be delivered at lowest cost.

2.Delivery to the storage place shall occur not later than 60 days following the date of issue of the delivery order. However, depending on the quantities accepted, the paying agency may extend that period by up to 14 days. In such cases the delivery period referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 17(1) may be extended accordingly. The paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

3.The operator shall bear the costs relating to the following tests carried out for cereals in accordance with the methodology referred to in Part IV of Annex I:

(i)

the amylasic activity (Hagberg) test;

(ii)

the test for the determination of the protein content of durum wheat and common wheat;

(iii)

the Zeleny test;

(iv)

the machinability test;

(v)

analyses of contaminants.

[F554.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 19U.K.Transport costs for cereals and rice

1.The cost of transporting the cereals or rice from the place where the product was stored at the time of the offer or tender to the storage place specified in the delivery order shall be borne by the operator, where the distance involved is equal to or less than 50 km.

Beyond that maximum distance, the additional transport costs shall be borne by the paying agency F56....

[F571A.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

F582.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 20U.K.Specific provisions for the delivery of beef

1.The buying-in price for beef shall be the price of the beef delivered to the entrance weighing point of the storage place or, where the meat is to be deboned, at the cutting plant.

2.The costs of unloading shall be borne by the operator.

3.Operators shall deliver the products not later than 15 days following the date of issue of the delivery order. However, depending on the quantities awarded, the paying agency may extend that period by up to seven days. In such cases the paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

[F594.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 21U.K.Specific provisions for the packing, delivery and storage of butter and skimmed milk powder

1.Butter shall be packed and delivered in blocks of 25 kilograms net in accordance with the requirements laid down in Part II of Annex IV.

2.Skimmed milk powder shall be packed and delivered in bags of a net weight of 25 kilograms in accordance with the requirements laid down in Part II of Annex V.

3.The operator shall deliver the butter or skimmed milk powder to the loading bay of the storage place within 21 days of the date of issue of the delivery order. However, depending on the quantities accepted, the paying agency may extend that period by up to seven days. In such cases the paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

The butter and skimmed milk powder shall be delivered on pallets of a quality suitable for long-term storage, to be exchanged against equivalent pallets. Alternatively, an equivalent system may be approved by the paying agency.

The costs incurred in unloading the butter or skimmed milk powder at the loading bay of the storage place shall be borne by the paying agency.

4.The paying agency shall require that butter and skimmed milk powder be placed and kept in storage on pallets in such a way as to create easily identifiable and readily accessible lots.

[F605.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 22U.K.Delivery

1.The date of delivery shall be:

(a)for cereals, rice, butter and skimmed milk powder: the date on which it is confirmed that the whole of the quantity referred to in the delivery order entered the designated storage place. This date cannot be earlier than the day following the date of issue of the delivery order;

(b)for each consignment of beef: the date of entrance at the weighing point of the intervention storage place or, where the meat is to be deboned, at the cutting plant.

2.The paying agency may decide that the takeover of cereals, rice, butter or skimmed milk powder takes place in the storage place where the products are held at the time the offer or tender is submitted, provided that the storage place fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 7(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 and in Article 3 of this Regulation. In that case, the date of delivery shall be the day following the date of issue of the delivery order and shall serve as the relevant date for the purposes of Article 18(2)(a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014.

3.The products shall be taken over by the paying agency or its representative, who shall be independent from the operator.

[F614.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Section 5U.K.Control and takeover

Article 23U.K.The takeover record

1.The takeover record shall be issued by the paying agency after the required checks and analyses have established that the eligibility requirements laid down in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 are fulfilled. It shall indicate at least:

(a)the quantities delivered and, for rice, the variety;

(b)the characteristics of the products as resulting from the analyses in so far as this is relevant for the calculation of the price;

(c)if applicable, the quantities that have not been taken over. In this case, the operator shall be notified accordingly.

2.The takeover record shall be dated and sent to the operator and to the storekeeper.

[F623.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 24U.K.Obligations of the operator

The products shall meet the eligibility requirements set out in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238. Where the required checks show that the products do not fulfil the eligibility requirements, the operator shall:

(a)

take back at his expense the products concerned;

(b)

pay the associated costs from the date of entry of the products into the storage place until the date of their removal from storage.

The costs to be paid by the operator shall be determined on the basis of standard amounts for entry, removal and storage costs in accordance with Article 3 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 906/2014(2).

[F63This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 25U.K.Deboning requirement for beef

Where deboning is required as a condition of the tendering procedure, the paying agency shall have all the beef that is bought-in deboned in accordance with Part III of Annex III.

[F64This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Section 6U.K.Price adjustments and payments

Article 26U.K.Price adjustments for cereals and rice

1.The price adjustment as provided for in Articles 2(2) and 3(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 shall be made in accordance with:

(a)Parts V and VI of Annex I to this Regulation in the case of cereals;

(b)Part II of Annex II to this Regulation in the case of rice.

2.If the paying agency takes over and stores cereals and rice at the storage place in accordance with Article 22(2), a reduction of EUR 5/tonne shall be made to the buying-in price.

[F653.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 27U.K.Payments

1.Payments for the quantities stated in the takeover record shall be made no later than the 65th day following the date of delivery referred to in Article 22, unless an administrative inquiry is under way.

2.Only the quantity actually delivered and accepted shall be paid for. However, if that quantity is greater than the quantity stated in the delivery order, only the quantity specified in the delivery order shall be paid for.

[F663.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

CHAPTER IIIU.K.Sale of products from intervention

Article 28U.K.Opening of the tendering procedure

1.Products taken over into public intervention and available for sale shall be sold through a tendering procedure.

[F672.The tendering procedure must be open for at least six days.]

3.Tendering procedures may be open for the sale of products stored in one or several regions of the [F68constituent nation].

4.The [F69tendering procedure] opening the sale shall contain, in particular, the following information:

(a)the products covered, and in particular:

(i)

for rice, an indication of the type and variety,

(ii)

for beef, the relevant cuts;

(b)the period covered (‘tendering period’) and the different sub-periods during which the tenders can be submitted;

(c)for beef, butter and skimmed milk powder, the minimum quantity for which a tender may be submitted;

(d)the amount of the security that shall be lodged when submitting a tender.

In addition, that [F69tendering procedure] may contain:

(a)

the global quantities covered by the tendering procedure;

(b)

if applicable, provisions concerning transport costs for cereals and rice.

5.Tendering procedures may be restricted to specified uses or destinations and include provisions for verifying the use or destination.

[F706.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 29U.K.Notice of invitation to tender and arrangements related to the invitation to tender

1.[F71Where the paying agency is holding intervention stocks available for sale, it] shall draw up a notice of invitation to tender, and publish it at least four days before the first date for the submission of tenders.

2.The notice of invitation to tender shall indicate in particular:

(a)the name and address of the paying agency issuing the notice of invitation to tender;

(b)the reference to the [F72published tendering procedure] opening the sale;

(c)the closing dates for the submission of tenders for each partial invitation to tender;

(d)for each storage place, the name and address of the storekeeper, and, as appropriate:

(i)

for cereals and rice, the quantities available presented in sales lots determined in such a way to ensure equal access to operators, together with a description of the quality of each sales lot;

(ii)

for beef, the quantities available by cut, in accordance with Part IV of Annex III and the date of delivery;

(iii)

for butter and skimmed milk powder, the quantities available and the date of delivery;

(e)the delivery stage as referred to in Article 30(1)(d) and, if applicable, the type of packaging;

(f)any facilities at the storage place for loading onto a means of transport;

(g)for butter, where appropriate, the available quantity of sweet cream butter per storage place, as referred to in point 2(d) of Part II of Annex IV.

3.The paying agency shall ensure that notices of invitation to tender are properly publicised.

4.The paying agency shall make the necessary arrangements to enable interested parties:

(a)to inspect and to take and examine samples of cereals and rice put up for sale at their own expense before submitting a tender;

(b)to consult the results of the analyses referred to in Part IV of Annex I, Part I of Annex II, Part I of Annex IV or Part I of Annex V, as appropriate.

[F735.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 30U.K.Submission and admissibility of tenders

1.A tender shall be admissible if it complies with the requirements laid down in Article 2 and the [F74published tendering procedure] opening the sale. It shall also meet the following conditions:

(a)it indicates a reference to the [F74published tendering procedure] opening the sale and the expiry date for the sub-period of submission of the tenders;

(b)for beef, it indicates the relevant cuts;

(c)for cereals and rice, it indicates the total quantity of the sales lot;

(d)it indicates the price in euro tendered per unit of measurement, rounded to no more than two decimal places, exclusive of VAT, as follows:

(i)

in the case of cereals and rice, for the product loaded onto the means of transport;

(ii)

in the case of butter or skimmed milk powder, for the product supplied on pallets at the loading bay of the storage place or, if necessary, supplied on pallets loaded onto the means of transport where it is a lorry or railway wagon;

(iii)

in the case of beef, for the product delivered to the loading bay of the storage place.

(e)for beef, butter and skimmed milk powder, that it relates to at least the minimum quantity referred to in the [F74published tendering procedure] opening the sale;

(f)it indicates the storage place where the product is held and, for butter and skimmed milk powder, an alternative storage place may be specified;

(g)the operator has lodged the amount of the security provided for in the [F74published tendering procedure] opening the sale.

2.For cereals, the tendered price shall refer to the minimum quality defined in Part II of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 or, for rice to the standard quality defined in Section A of Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

3.For beef, butter and skimmed milk powder, the tendered price shall apply to net weight.

For butter, where appropriate, the tender may specify that it is submitted exclusively for sweet cream butter as referred to in Article 29(2)(g).

[F754.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

F76Article 31U.K.Notification of tenders to the Commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 32U.K.Decisions on the selling price

1.On the basis of the [F77admissible tenders submitted within the time limits set out in the published tendering procedure opening the sale, the appropriate authority shall decide]:

(a)not to fix a minimum selling price; or

(b)to fix a minimum selling price.

For butter and skimmed milk powder the minimum selling price may vary according to the location of the products offered for sale.

2.The decision referred to in paragraph 1 shall be published [F78by the appropriate authority].

[F793.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 33U.K.Individual decisions on tenders

1.Where no minimum selling price has been fixed, all tenders shall be rejected.

2.Where a minimum selling price has been fixed, the [F80paying agency] shall reject any tender lower than the minimum selling price.

The [F80paying agency] shall only accept [F81admissible tenders submitted within the time limits set in the published tendering procedure opening the sale.]

3.The [F82paying agency] shall take the decisions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article after the publication of the decision of the [F83appropriate authority] referred to in Article 32.

The paying agency shall notify the operators of the outcome of their participation in the tendering procedure within three working days of the entry into force of that decision of the [F83appropriate authority].

[F844.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 34U.K.Specific rules for the allocation of beef, butter and skimmed milk powder

1.For butter and skimmed milk powder, the successful operator shall be the operator offering the highest price. If the full quantity available is not allocated, the remainder shall be awarded to the other operators on the basis of the prices tendered, starting with the highest price.

2.Where acceptance of a tender would result in contracts being awarded in excess of the quantity of beef, butter or skimmed milk powder available at a particular storage place, only the quantity available shall be awarded to the operator in question. However, with the agreement of the operator, the paying agency may allocate product from other storage places to fulfil the tender quantity.

3.Where acceptance of two or more tenders offering the same price at a particular storage place would lead to contracts being awarded in excess of the available quantity of beef, butter or skimmed milk powder, the award shall be made by allocating the quantity available in proportion to the quantities tendered for. However, if such allocation leads to the award of quantities of less than the minimum quantity referred to in Article 28(4)(c), the award shall be made by drawing lots.

4.Where after the acceptance of all successful tenders the quantity of beef, butter or skimmed milk powder left at the storage place is less than the minimum quantity referred to in Article 28(4)(c), the remaining quantity shall be offered by the paying agency to the successful operators starting with the one who offered the highest price. The successful operators shall be offered the option to buy the remaining quantity at the minimum selling price.

5.The paying agency shall allocate the product on the basis of its date of entry into storage, starting with the oldest product of the total quantity available at the storage place designated by the operator or, as the case may be, the oldest of the quantity of butter or sweet cream butter or cut of beef available in the cold storage place designated by the operator.

[F856.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 35U.K.Payments

Before removing the product and within the period specified in Article 37(2), operators shall pay the paying agency the amount corresponding to their tender for each quantity that they withdraw from the storage place, as notified by the paying agency in accordance with Article 33(3).

[F86This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 36U.K.Sales by [F87the paying agency]

1.[F88Where] no tendering procedure is open in accordance with Article 28, the paying agency may itself open a tendering procedure for the sale of intervention products when the total quantity remaining in all its storage places is less than:

(a)for each cereal: 10 000 tonnes;

(b)for rice: 2 000 tonnes;

(c)for beef, butter or skimmed milk powder: 200 tonnes.

2.Chapter II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 and this Chapter shall apply to a tendering procedure opened [F89by the paying agency] in accordance with paragraph 1, with the exception of Articles 28(2), 29(2)(b), 30(1)(a) and (e), F90... and 32(2) of this Regulation. Article 32(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a respective decision of the [F91paying agency].

3.Within the quantities fixed in paragraph 1, [F92the paying agency] may put up for direct sale products which, after visual examination in the context of the annual stocktaking in accordance with point (g) of the first subparagraph of Article 3(3) and Article 3(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014 or during the inspection after taking into intervention, may no longer be repackaged or are deteriorated.

4.The [F93paying agency] shall ensure equality of access for all parties concerned.

[F945.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Textual Amendments

Article 37U.K.Removal order

1.On payment of the amount referred to in Article 35, the paying agency shall issue a removal order indicating:

(a)the quantity in respect of which the corresponding amount has been paid;

(b)the storage place in which the product is stored;

(c)the final date for removal of the product.

2.The operators shall remove the product awarded to them within 30 days of the notification referred to in Article 33(3). After that period of time the costs and risks shall be borne by the operator.

[F953.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 38U.K.Removal of butter and skimmed milk powder

1.At the time of removal from the storage place and in the case of delivery outside the storage place, the paying agency shall make the butter and skimmed milk powder available on pallets at the loading bay of the storage place, and loaded onto the means of transport where it is a lorry or a railway wagon. The costs involved shall be borne by the paying agency.

2.The operator shall return equivalent quality pallets to the paying agency on removal from the storage place. Alternatively, an equivalent arrangement may be agreed with the paying agency.

3.Any stowage and depalletising costs shall be borne by the operator of the butter or skimmed milk powder.

[F964.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

F97CHAPTER IVU.K. Disposal of products from intervention for the scheme for food distribution to the most deprived in the Union

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TITLE IIIU.K.AID FOR PRIVATE STORAGE

CHAPTER IU.K.Specific rules for aid for private storage

Section IU.K.General provisions

Article 39U.K.Opening of tendering procedures and fixing aid in advance

1.[F98Any tendering procedure (where tendering applies) or Regulations] fixing the amount of aid in advance may contain the following information:

(a)the products, or types of products, covered with their relevant CN codes, if applicable;

(b)in the case of aid fixed in advance, the amount of aid for storage per unit of measurement for the products covered;

(c)the unit of measurement of the quantities;

(d)if the tender or aid fixed in advance relates to products that have already been placed in storage;

(e)in the case of tenders, the period covered (‘tendering period’) and, if necessary, the different sub-periods during which tenders can be submitted, and in the case of aid fixed in advance the period for submitting an application;

(f)the period of storage;

(g)the global quantity, if applicable;

(h)the minimum quantity per tender or application;

(i)the amount of the security per unit of measurement in the case of tenders and, where applicable, for applications;

(j)the periods of placing into store and of removal from store;

(k)the specifications that have to appear on the packaging, if applicable.

[F991A.In relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020, or in relation to private storage aid schemes in England, paragraph 1 is to be read as if point (i) were omitted.]

F1002.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.In the case of tenders, at least six days shall elapse between F101... opening the tendering procedure and the first date for the submission of tenders.

Article 40U.K.Submission and admissibility of tenders and applications for aid for private storage

A tender or application for aid for private storage shall be admissible if it complies with the requirements laid down in Article 2 and the following conditions are met:

(a)

it includes at least the following information:

(i)

a reference to the [F102published tendering procedure or Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance;

(ii)

the storage period where so required in the [F102published tendering procedure or Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance;

(iii)

the quantity of products covered by the tender or application;

(iv)

where products are already stored, the name and address of each place of private storage, the location of the storage lots/batches/vats/silos with the corresponding quantities and, where appropriate, the number identifying the approved undertaking;

(v)

in the case of tenders, the expiry date for the sub-period of submission;

(vi)

in the case of tenders, the amount of aid in euro proposed per unit of measurement rounded to no more than two decimal places, exclusive of VAT;

(b)

the operator has lodged the amount of the security referred to in the [F103published tendering procedure or Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance.

[F104This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.

In relation to private storage aid schemes in England, this Article is to be read as if—

(a)in point (a)(vi), for “euro” there were substituted “sterling”;

(b)point (b) were omitted.]

Article 41U.K.Verification of tenders and applications by the paying agency

1.The paying agency shall decide on the admissibility of tenders and applications on the basis of the conditions set out in Articles 2 and 40.

2.Where the paying agency decides that a tender or application is inadmissible, it shall inform the operator concerned within three working days of the receipt of the tender or application.

F105Article 42U.K.Notification of tenders and applications to the Commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section IIU.K.Fixing the amount of aid for private storage via a tendering procedure

Article 43U.K.Decisions on the maximum amount of aid for private storage

1.On the basis of the [F106admissible tenders received within the time limits set down in the published tendering procedure], the [F107appropriate authority] shall decide F108...:

(a)not to fix a maximum amount of the aid; or

(b)to fix a maximum amount of the aid.

2.Where the tender is subject to a global quantity as referred to in Article 39(1)(g), and if the award of the total quantities for which that amount has been offered would lead to the global quantity being exceeded, the [F109appropriate authority] shall [F110fix] an allocation coefficient. The coefficient shall apply to the tenders which have been received at the level of the maximum amount of aid.

By way of derogation from Article 2(6), an operator to whom an allocation coefficient applies may withdraw his tender within 10 working days of the date of entry into force of the decision fixing the allocation coefficient.

3.Decisions on aid referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be published [F111by the appropriate authority].

Article 44U.K.Individual decisions on tenders

1.Where no maximum amount of aid for private storage has been fixed, all tenders shall be rejected.

2.Where a maximum amount of aid has been fixed, the paying agency shall accept tenders which are equal to, or lower than that amount, without prejudice to Article 43(2). All the other tenders shall be rejected.

The paying agency shall only accept [F112tenders received within the time limits set down in the published tendering procedure.].

3.The paying agency shall take the decisions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article after the publication of the decision of the [F113appropriate authority] referred to in Article 43(1).

The paying agency shall notify operators of the outcome of their participation in the tendering procedure within three working days of the entry into force of that decision of the [F113appropriate authority].

Section IIIU.K.Fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance

Article 45U.K.Decisions on applications for aid for private storage fixed in advance

1.For products already in storage, an admissible application shall be deemed to have been accepted on the eighth working day following the date of receipt of that application, provided that the [F114appropriate authority] does not adopt a decision in accordance with paragraph 3 in the interim.

2.For products that are not already stored, decisions on acceptance of an admissible application shall be notified by the paying agency to the operator on the eighth working day following the date of receipt of that application, provided that the [F114appropriate authority] does not adopt a decision in accordance with paragraph 3 in the interim.

3.Where an examination of the situation reveals that excessive use has been made of the aid for private storage scheme, or that there is a risk of excessive use or speculation, the [F114appropriate authority] mayF115... decide to:

(a)suspend the application of the scheme for not more than five working days; applications submitted during that period shall not be accepted;

(b)set a single percentage by which the quantities in the applications are reduced, subject to observance of the minimum contractual quantity where appropriate;

(c)reject applications made before the period of suspension the acceptance of which would have been decided during the period of suspension.

By way of derogation from Article 2(6), an operator to whom point (b) of the first subparagraph applies may withdraw his application within 10 working days of the date of entry into force of the decision setting the percentage reduction.

Section IVU.K.Placing of products into private storage

Article 46U.K.Information related to the place of private storage for products not yet in storage

Following receipt of the notification referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 44(3) or the notification of the decision referred to in Article 45(2), the operator shall notify the paying agency of the timeframe for the entry of products into storage, the name and address of each place of private storage and the corresponding quantities. The notification shall be provided to the paying agency at least five working days before the start of the placing lots into storage. The paying agency may decide to accept a shorter period than five working days.

Article 47U.K.Placing into storage of products not yet in storage

1.Products shall be placed into storage within 28 days following the notification referred to in the second paragraph of Article 44(3) in the case of tenders, or the notification of the decision referred to in Article 45(2) in the case of applications.

2.For meat, placing in storage shall begin, for each individual lot of the quantity covered by the tender or application, on the day on which it comes under the control of the competent authority. That day shall be the day on which the net weight of the fresh or chilled product is determined:

(a)at the place of private storage, where the product is frozen on the premises;

(b)at the place of freezing, where the product is frozen in suitable facilities outside the place of private storage.

3.Placing into storage shall be considered completed on the day on which the last individual lot of the quantity covered by the tender or application is placed in storage.

CHAPTER IIU.K.Storage contracts

Section IU.K.Conclusion of contracts

Article 48U.K.Contractual storage period

1.The contractual storage period starts on the day following:

(a)the date of the notification referred to in Article 44(3), or the date of receipt of an admissible application without prejudice to Article 45(1), for products already placed in storage;

(b)the date that placing into storage is considered completed in accordance with Article 47(3) for products which are not yet stored.

2.The last day of the contractual storage period may be fixed in the [F116published tendering procedure or the Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance, as referred to in Article 39(1)(f).

By way of derogation from Article 3(4) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71(3), when the last day of the contractual storage period falls on Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday, the contractual storage period shall end with the expiry of the last hour of that day.

Article 49U.K.Conclusion of contracts

[F117Where products are stored or will be stored in the United Kingdom, contracts shall be concluded between the paying agency] and operators fulfilling the requirements laid down in Article 2 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 from whom a tender or application has been accepted.

Contracts shall be concluded for the quantity actually placed in storage (the ‘contractual quantity’), which shall not exceed the quantity referred to the second paragraph of Article 44(3) in the case of tenders, or the quantity in the application in respect of products already in store, or the notification of the decision referred to in Article 45(2) in the case of applications for products not yet in store.

Where the quantity actually placed in storage is less than 95 % of the quantity in the tender or application, or the quantity arising from the application of Article 45(3)(b), no contract shall be concluded.

Contracts shall not be concluded where the eligibility of the products is not confirmed.

Article 50U.K.Notification of conclusion of contracts

The paying agency shall notify the successful operator of a contract considered as being concluded within five working days of the date of issue of the control report referred to in Article 61(1), subject to receiving all of the documents necessary for concluding the contract.

The date of conclusion of the contract shall be that on which the paying agency notifies the operator.

Section IIU.K.Elements of the contract and obligations of the operator

Article 51U.K.Elements of the contract

The contract shall be construed as including, where appropriate, the elements provided for in Article 52, as well as those provided for in:

(a)

the relevant provisions of the F118... tendering procedure and in the tender; or

(b)

the relevant provisions of the F119... Regulation fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance and in the application.

Article 52U.K.Obligations of the operator

1.Contracts shall cover at least the following obligations for the operator:

(a)to place and to keep the contractual quantity in storage, during the contractual storage period, at their own risk and expense under conditions ensuring the maintenance of the characteristics of the products referred to in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, without:

(i)

substituting the stored products, except in the case of sugar in accordance with paragraph 3;

(ii)

or transferring them to another place of private storage or, in the case of sugar, to another silo;

(b)to retain the weighing-in documents established at the time of entry into the place of private storage;

(c)to send the documents relating to the operations of placing in storage, including the location of the storage lots/batches/vats/silos with the corresponding quantities, to the paying agency not later than five working days after the date of placing into storage referred to in Article 47(3);

(d)to allow the paying agency to check at any time that all the obligations laid down in the contract are being adhered to;

(e)to make the products stored easily accessible and individually identifiable by storage lot/batch/vat/silo.

2.By way of derogation from point (a)(ii) of paragraph 1, the paying agency may authorise a relocation of the stored products under the following conditions:

(i)

for cheeses benefiting from a protected designation of origin (PDO) or from a protected geographical indication (PGI), where the operator submits a reasoned request;

(ii)

for other products, in exceptional cases, where the operator submits a reasoned request.

[F1202A.In relation to private storage aid schemes in England, paragraph 2 is to be read as if—

(a)point (i) were omitted;

(b)in point (ii), “for other products” were omitted.]

3.By way of derogation from point (e) of paragraph 1 of this Article, sugar subject to a contract may be stored in a silo designated by the operator with other sugar provided that the contractual quantity is kept in storage in the designated silo during the contractual period in accordance with Article 8(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238.

4.The operator shall, on request, make available to the paying agency responsible for checking all documentation, for each contract, allowing in particular the following information on the products placed in storage to be verified:

(a)the number identifying the approved undertaking F121...;

(b)the origin and the date of production of the products, or for sugar the marketing year of production, and for meat the day of slaughtering;

(c)the date of placing into storage;

(d)the weight and, in the case of meat, the number of cuts packaged;

(e)the address of the place of private storage and the means allowing for ready identification of the product within the place of private storage or, for bulk sugar, the identification of the silo designated by the operator;

(f)the end date of the contractual storage period and the actual date of removal from contractual storage.

5.The operator or, where applicable, the storekeeper shall keep a register at the warehouse covering, by contract number:

(a)the identification of the products placed in storage by lot/batch/vat/silo;

(b)the dates of placing in and removal from storage;

(c)the quantity of products in storage by lot/batch/vat/silo;

(d)the location of the products by storage lot/batch/vat/silo within the store.

CHAPTER IIIU.K.Removal of products and payment of aid for private storage

Section IU.K.Removal of products from storage

Article 53U.K.Removal from storage

1.Removal from storage may start on the day following the last day of the contractual storage period or, as the case may be, from the date specified in the [F122published tendering procedure or the Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance.

2.Removal from storage shall be in whole storage lots unless the paying agency authorises removal in smaller quantities.

However, in the case of sealed products as referred to in Article 60, only a sealed quantity may be removed from store.

3.Where in the [F123published tendering procedure or the Regulations] fixing the amount of aid for private storage in advance, the contractual storage period is specified as being between a period of days, the operator shall notify the paying agency of the intention to begin removing products from storage, indicating the storage lots/batches/vats/silos involved, at least five working days before the start of removal operations.

The paying agency may decide to accept a shorter period than five working days.

Section IIU.K.Payment

Article 54U.K.Application for payment of aid for private storage

The operator shall lodge an application for payment within three months of the end of the contractual storage period.

Article 55U.K.Payment of aid for private storage

Payment of the aid shall be made not later than 120 days following the date on which an application for payment is lodged provided that the obligations of the contract have been met.

However, if an administrative inquiry is under way, payment shall not be made until entitlement has been recognised.

TITLE IVU.K.CHECKS AND PENALTIES

CHAPTER IU.K.Checks

Article 56U.K.General provisions on checks relating to public intervention and aid for private storage

1.Paying agencies shall take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the requirements relating to public intervention and the granting of aid for private storage laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, this Regulation [F124, and the tendering procedures and the Regulations] referred to in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) of this Regulation.

The measures shall include full administrative checking of offers and tenders for public intervention and tenders and applications for aid for private storage, which shall be supplemented by on-the-spot documentary and physical checks as specified in this Title.

2.The verification of the weight of products delivered to public intervention and, in the case of aid for private storage, of the contractual quantity shall be conducted in the presence of the officials of the paying agency.

3.Physical samples taken for the purposes of verifying the quality and composition of products for public intervention and aid for private storage shall be taken by the officials of the paying agency or in their presence.

4.For the purposes of the audit trail, all stock and financial records and documents checked by the paying agency shall be stamped or initialled during the control visit. Where computer records are verified, a record of the check undertaken shall be included in the inspection file, either in paper or in electronic form. Such records shall be made available to the [F125appropriate authority] on request.

[F1265.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 57U.K.Specific provisions on checks relating to public intervention

1.Without prejudice to the checks required by this Regulation for the takeover of products, the checks of the intervention stocks shall be carried out in accordance with Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014.

F1272.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.For beef, the checks shall be carried out in accordance with Parts I and III of Annex III.

[F1284.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 58U.K.Specific provisions on checks relating to public intervention for cereals and rice

1.Notwithstanding Article 56(2), the quantity delivered shall be weighed in the presence of the operator and a representative of the paying agency who is independent from the operator.

However, if the representative of the paying agency is also the storekeeper, the paying agency shall, within 30 days of the date of delivery, conduct an inspection involving at least a volumetric check. Any difference between the quantity determined by weighing and the quantity estimated in accordance with the volumetric method shall not exceed 5 %.

Where the 5 % tolerance is not exceeded, the storekeeper shall bear all costs relating to any difference observed, at a later weight check, from the weight entered in the accounts on takeover.

Where the 5 % tolerance is exceeded, the cereals or rice shall be weighed forthwith. Where the weight determined is less than that recorded, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the storekeeper. Otherwise, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the paying agency.

2.Where the level of contaminants in cereals is to be checked on the basis of the risk analysis referred to in point 3 of Part I of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, the paying agency shall be liable for the financial consequences of any failure to comply with the maximum contaminant levels in accordance with the rules set out in Article 3(6) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014.

F129...

[F1303.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 59U.K.Specific provisions for the takeover in storage place of the storekeeper for cereals and rice

1.If the takeover of cereals or rice takes place at the storage place where the products are held at the time the offer or tender is submitted, the quantity taken over shall be established on the basis of the store register, which shall fulfil professional standards which allow to guarantee compliance with F131... legislation, in particular with Annex III to Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014, and provided that:

(a)the store register shows:

(i)

the weight recorded on weighing carried out within a period of no more than 10 months before the takeover;

(ii)

the physical quality characteristics at the time of weighing and, in particular, the moisture content;

(iii)

trans-silages, if any, and treatments carried out;

(b)the storekeeper declares that the lot offered corresponds in all respects to the details contained in the store register;

(c)the quality characteristics established at the time of weighing are the same as those of the representative sample made up from the samples taken by the paying agency or its representative at a rate of one for every 60 tonnes.

2.If paragraph 1 applies, the weight to be recorded in the store register and financial accounts provided for in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 3(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014 shall be that entered in the store register and adjusted, where appropriate, to take account of any difference between the moisture content or the percentage of miscellaneous impurities (Schwarzbesatz) recorded at the moment of weighing and those determined on the basis of the representative sample. A difference between the percentages of miscellaneous impurities may only be taken into account to reduce the weight entered in the store register.

Within 30 days of takeover the paying agency shall make a volumetric check. Any difference between the quantity determined by weighing and the quantity estimated in accordance with the volumetric method shall not exceed 5 %.

Where the 5 % tolerance is not exceeded, the storekeeper shall bear all costs relating to any difference observed, at a later weight check, from the weight entered in the accounts on takeover.

Where the 5 % tolerance is exceeded, the cereals or rice shall be weighed forthwith. Where the weight determined is less than that recorded, account being taken of the tolerance limits provided for in point 1 of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the storekeeper. Otherwise, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the [F132appropriate authority].

[F1333.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Article 60U.K.Specific provisions on checks relating to aid for private storage

1.For all the lots put into storage, the paying agency shall undertake on-the-spot documentary checks within 30 days of the start of the contractual storage period referred to in Article 48(1) in order to verify the contractual quantity referred to in Article 49. Such checks shall include an examination of the store register referred to in Article 52(5) and of supporting documents, such as weigh tickets and delivery dockets, as well as physical verification of the presence of the lots and the identity of the products in the place of private storage.

In the case of meat, the checks shall take place at the time of placing into private storage, and for olive oil, prior to the official sealing of the vats.

In duly justified circumstances, the paying agency may extend the period referred to in the first subparagraph by up to 15 days. In such cases, the paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

2.In addition to the checks required under paragraph 1, a representative statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities placed in storage shall be physically checked to ensure that the quantity, nature and composition, packaging and marking of the products and storage lots conform to the requirements for private storage and to the particulars specified by the operator in their tender or application.

In the case of cheese, physical checks shall be undertaken on all lots in order to verify the contractual quantity.

[F1342A.In relation to England, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is to be read as if for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.]

3.During the storage period, the paying agency shall also undertake unannounced on-the-spot checks to ensure the presence and identity of the contractual quantity in the place of private storage, and that sugar stored in bulk is present in the silo designated by the operator. The check shall be undertaken on the basis of a random statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded. This sample shall not include more than 25 % of lots already checked in accordance with paragraph 2, unless it would not be possible to conduct the on-the-spot check of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded.

The unannounced check referred in the first subparagraph shall not be necessary where the paying agency, with the agreement of the operator, has sealed the products in such a way that the contractual quantities cannot be removed from the place of storage without breaking seal.

[F1353A.Paragraph 3 does not apply in relation to England.]

4.At the end of the contractual storage period, or before the start of the removal of products where Article 53(3) applies, the paying agency shall undertake on-the-spot checks to verify that the contractual commitment has been met based on a documentary check of the store register and supporting documents, as well as a verification of the presence of the lots and the identity of the products in the place of private storage.

In addition to the checks referred to in the first subparagraph, a representative statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded shall be physically checked to verify the quantity, type, packaging and marking and identity of the products in the place of private storage.

[F1364A.In relation to England, the second subparagraph of paragraph 4 is to be read as if, for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.]

5.Where the paying agency, with the agreement of the operator, has sealed the products in such a way that the stored quantity cannot be removed from the individual lot without breaking seal, the checks referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may be limited to verifying the presence and integrity of the seals.

[F1376.In relation to England, paragraph 5 is to be read as if for “paragraphs 3 and” there were substituted “paragraph”.]

[F138Article 60aU.K. Specific provision on checks relating to public intervention and aid for private storage for milk and milk products

1.The eligibility of butter, skimmed milk powder and cheese to receive aid for private storage shall be established in accordance with the methods laid down in Annexes VI, VII and VIII respectively.

Those methods shall be established by reference to the latest versions of the relevant [F139domestic] or international standards, as the case may be, in force at least 6 months before the first day of the public intervention period as defined in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

2.The results of the checks conducted by applying the methods set out in this Regulation shall be evaluated in accordance with Annex IX.

[F1403.In relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020, or in relation to private storage aid schemes in England, this Article is to be read as if—

(a)in the heading, “public intervention and” were omitted;

(b)in paragraph 1, in the second subparagraph, the words from “, in force” to the end were omitted.]]

Article 61U.K.Reporting of checks

1.The paying agency shall draw up a control report within five working days of the completion of each on-the-spot check undertaken and, if appropriate, of the checks referred to in Article 56(3). The report shall describe precisely the different items checked and shall set out:

(a)the date and time of commencement of the check;

(b)details of any advance notice given;

(c)the duration of the check;

(d)the responsible persons present;

(e)the nature and extent of the checks carried out, providing, in particular, details of the documents and products examined;

(f)the findings and conclusions;

(g)whether any follow-up is required.

The report shall be signed by the responsible paying agency official and either countersigned by the operator or, where applicable, by the storekeeper, or sent to the operator by registrable means. The report shall be included in the payment file.

2.In case of non-compliance of products subject to the check, the verification shall be extended to a larger statistical sample to be determined by the paying agency.

3.The paying agency shall record any cases of non-compliance on the basis of the criteria of gravity, extent, duration and repetition that may result in exclusion in accordance with Article 62(1), or in the repayment of unduly paid, aid for private storage, including interest where applicable, in accordance with Article 62(4).

CHAPTER IIU.K.Penalties and administrative measures

Article 62U.K.Penalties and administrative measures in relation to aid for private storage

1.Where the paying agency finds that a document presented by an operator, which is required under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, this Regulation [F141, or a published tendering procedure or the Regulations] referred to in Article 1(2)(b) of this Regulation, provides incorrect information, and where the incorrect information concerned is decisive for the granting of aid for private storage, the paying agency shall exclude the operator from the procedure of granting aid for the product for which the incorrect information has been given for a period of one year from the date of adoption of a final administrative decision establishing the irregularity.

2.The exclusion provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply if the operator proves, to the satisfaction of the paying agency, that the situation referred to in that paragraph is due to force majeure or obvious error.

3.Unduly paid aid shall be recovered, with interest, from the operators concerned. The rules laid down in Article 27 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

F1424.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TITLE VU.K.NOTIFICATIONS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER IU.K.Notifications

Section IU.K.General provisions on notifications

F143Article 63U.K.Method of notification

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F144Article 64U.K.Notifications concerning the paying agency

The appropriate authority shall make available to the public details of the approved paying agency, including by way of publication on the internet.]

Section IIU.K.Notifications as regards public intervention

Article 65U.K.Notifications of information on intervention stocks

1.[F145Where the paying agency holds intervention stocks, it shall notify the appropriate authority], not later than the 15th of each month, of the following items:

(a)for cereals and rice:

(i)

the quantities stored from the beginning of the marketing year;

(ii)

the cumulative quantities taken over since the beginning of the marketing year;

(iii)

the cumulative quantities which have left the storage places since the beginning of the marketing year, identified where appropriate by type of use or destination, and the cumulative quantities lost;

(iv)

the cumulative quantities committed, identified where appropriate by type of use or destination;

(v)

the quantities under offer at the end of the monthly reporting period;

(b)for butter and skimmed-milk powder:

(i)

the quantities for each product in storage at the end of the previous month and the quantities entering and leaving the storage places during that month;

(ii)

a breakdown of the quantities of each product leaving the storage places during the previous month, according to the [F146published] tendering procedure for the sale of the products concerned;

(iii)

a breakdown by age of the quantities in storage at the end of the previous month;

(c)for beef:

(i)

the quantities for each product in storage at the end of the previous month and the quantities entering and leaving the storage places during that month;

(ii)

a breakdown of the quantities of each product leaving the storage places during the previous month, according to the [F147published] tendering procedure for the sale of the products concerned;

(iii)

the quantities of each cut covered by contracts of sale concluded in the previous month;

(iv)

the quantities of each cut covered by removal orders issued in the previous month;

(v)

the quantities of each cut bought in during the previous month;

(vi)

the uncommitted stocks and the physical stocks of each cut at the end of the previous month, with details of the length of time the uncommitted stocks have been in storage;

(d)for all products:

(i)

the opening of a tendering procedure, the quantities awarded and the minimum sale prices fixed in the case of application of Article 36;

(ii)

F148...

2The [F149appropriate authority] may request that notifications provided for in paragraph 1 be made with an increased frequency where that is necessary for the purposes of the efficient management of the intervention system.

3.For the purposes of point (b) of paragraph 1:

(a)‘quantities entering’ means quantities physically placed in storage, whether or not taken over by the paying agency;

(b)‘quantities leaving’ means quantities which have been removed or, if taken over by the purchaser before removal, quantities taken over.

4.For the purposes of point (c) of paragraph 1:

(a)‘uncommitted stocks’ means stocks not yet covered by a contract of sale;

(b)‘physical stocks’ means uncommitted stocks plus stocks covered by a contract of sale but not yet taken over.

[F1505.This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.]

Section IIIU.K.Notifications as regards aid for private storage

F151Article 66U.K.Notification of information on private storage

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER IIU.K.Final provisions

Article 67U.K.Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply as from 1 October 2016. However, as regards buying-in to public intervention, Tables III and IV of Part V and Point (b) of Part VI of Annex I shall apply as of 1 July 2017.

F152....