Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 of 20 February 2006 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector^f1, and in particular Article 44 thereof,

Whereas:

According to Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006, the marketing year for products in the sugar sector is the period from 1 October to 30 September. However, the marketing year 2006/2007 begins on 1 July 2006 and ends on 30 September 2007. Consequently, unlike a normal marketing year, it extends over 15 months rather than 12 months.

In view of the length of the marketing year 2006/2007, Article 9(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 493/2006^f2 provides for a transitional isoglucose quota so as to ensure an allocation which corresponds to that of the preceding marketing year.

A number of Member States allocate sugar quotas to undertakings specialising in the production of sugar by extraction from molasses. As in the case of isoglucose, this involves consistent levels of production throughout a given marketing year. However, in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006, the quantity allocated for the marketing year 2006/2007 is equal to the quantity allocated for the marketing year 2005/2006. In the interests of fairness to the isoglucose producers, these undertakings, too, should be allocated a transitional quota taking into account the length of the marketing year 2006/2007.

Regulation (EC) No 493/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: