Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products^f1,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 of 16 December 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter and cream^f2, and in particular Article 2 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 343/2006^f3 establishes the list of Member States in which buying-in for butter is open, as provided for in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.

On the basis of most recent communications by Italy, pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999, the Commission has observed that butter market prices have been below 92 % of the intervention price for two consecutive weeks. Intervention buying-in should therefore be opened in those Member States. Italy should therefore be added to the list established in Regulation (EC) No 343/2006.

Regulation (EC) No 343/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: