Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in eggs^f1, and in particular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

Owing to the outbreak of avian influenza in certain production regions in the Netherlands, veterinary and trade restrictions applying to that country were adopted by Commission Decision 2003/153/EC of 3 March 2003 concerning protection measures in relation to strong suspicion of avian influenza in the Netherlands^f2. As a result, the transport and marketing of hatching eggs were temporarily banned within the Netherlands.

The restrictions on the free movement of hatching eggs resulting from the application of the veterinary measures threaten to disrupt severely the hatching eggs market in the Netherlands. The Dutch authorities took market support measures applicable for the period strictly necessary and restricted to hatching eggs. The measures provided for the hatching eggs for which incubation was no longer possible to be used to produce egg products.

These measures had a positive impact on the market for hatching eggs and eggs in general. This justifies their being treated as exceptional market support measures within the meaning of Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 and the grant of aid to compensate for part of the financial loss resulting from the use of hatching eggs for processing into egg products.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: