Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1544/2006 of 5 October 2006 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing^f1, and in particular Article 2 thereof,

Whereas:

Regulation (EEC) No 1054/73 of the Commission of 18 April 1973 on detailed rules for aid in respect of silkworms^f2 has been substantially amended several times^f3. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.

Pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1544/2006 and Article 2(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 922/72 of the Council of 2 May 1972 laying down general rules for granting aid in respect of silkworms^f4, aid is granted solely for boxes which contain a minimum quantity of eggs and which have given a minimum production of cocoons. The Member States should be permitted to determine the minimum quantities but in the light of the normal conditions of production in the Community.

Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 922/72 states that Member States are to introduce a control ensuring that the product for which aid is requested meets the requirements for the granting thereof. Consequently, applications for aid submitted by rearers must include the minimum of information necessary for this control.

Uniform conditions for the payment of the amount of the aid should be laid down.

Member States are authorised to grant aid solely to rearers who have obtained their boxes of eggs from an approved body and who have delivered to an approved body the cocoons produced. For the purposes of the proper application of the system of aid, the conditions for the approval of such bodies should be defined.

In this particular case, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the control system referred to above, applications for aid should be accompanied by attestations issued by those bodies and should be checked by Member States.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Natural Fibres,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: