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, and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 343/2006^f2 has opened the buying-in of butter at 90 % of the intervention price in certain Member States for the period 1 March to 31 August 2006.

The second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the Commission may suspend the buying-in of butter at 90 % of the intervention price where the quantities offered for intervention in the period from 1 March to 31 August 2006 exceed 50 000 tonnes.

Since the threshold of 50 000 tonnes is met, the buying-in of butter at fixed price should be suspended. Regulation (EC) No 343/2006 should therefore be repealed.

In order to continue to support the butter market, the buying-in of butter should be authorised under a standing invitation to tender in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 in those Member States where the market price of butter is less than 92 % of the intervention price.

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 of the market in butter and cream^f3 lays down rules to be followed when the Commission decides that the buying-in is to take place under a standing invitation to tender.

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: