Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector^f1, and in particular Article 24 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 595/2004 of 30 March 2004 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector^f2 fixes in particular the timetable and conditions for collection of the levy. Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 595/2004 lays down that, before 1 September each year, purchasers and, in the case of direct sales, producers liable for the levy must pay the competent authority the amount due in accordance with rules laid down by the Member State. If this time-limit is not complied with, interest becomes payable under Article 15(2).

For the purposes of improving budget forecasting and making budget management more flexible, Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 is currently being amended in order to defer the date by which the Member States must pay the levy referred to in Article 3(1) of the Regulation and to allow some Member States to transfer national reference quantities between direct sales and deliveries for the twelve month period 2005/06 within the meaning of Article 1(1) of the Regulation. With a view to consistency and so that the national administrations can introduce these new rules as efficiently as possible, the date by which the amounts due by milk purchasers must be paid should also be deferred for 2005/06, Article 15(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 595/2004 notwithstanding. For administrative reasons a different date should be fixed for the Member States transferring national reference quantities.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: