Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3698/88 of 24 November 1988 laying down special measures for hemp seed^f1, and in particular Article 2 (3) thereof,

Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1496/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules for granting aid for hemp seed^f2, Member States must introduce control arrangements whereby it is possible to verify whether the area under hemp seed in respect of which an application for aid is submitted tallies with that sown and harvested and whether the requirements laid down as regards the content of intoxicating substances are met; whereas, to that end, all producers must submit aid applications giving certain minimum information permitting such verification; whereas provision should be made for such verification to be conducted in particular by an on-the-spot sampling check of a sufficiently representative number of aid applications; whereas, to the same end, the particulars to be notified to the Commission by the Member States should be specified ;

Whereas special provisions should be laid down to cover cases of false declarations by producers ;

Whereas, to simplify the operation of the scheme, it should be provided that Member States are to apply a system similar to that instituted by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1164/89 of 28 April 1989 laying down detailed rules concerning the aid for fibre flax and hemp^f3 ;

Whereas uniform provisions should be laid down for the payment of the aid ;

Whereas the operative event creating entitlement to the aid for hemp occurs when the hemp is produced; whereas, however, it is very difficult to establish the exact date of production of a given lot; whereas experience has shown that production is almost entirely completed during the month of August of each year at the latest; whereas, in order to ensure uniform operation of the aid scheme, the conversion rate used to calculate the amounts of the aid in national currency should be the rate applicable at the end of that month ;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Oils and Fats,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :