14. 5. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 118/19 COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1168/93 of 13 May 1993 laying down detailed rules governing the grant of private storage aid for Pecorino Romano cheese THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products ('), as last amended by Regula- tion (EEC) No 2071/92 (%), and in particular Articles 9 (3) and 28 thereof, Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 508/71 of 8 March 1971 laying down general rules on private storage aid for long-keeping cheeses (°) permits the granting of private storage aid for sheep’s milk cheeses requiring at least six months for maturing where a serious market imbalance could be eliminated or reduced by seasonal storage ; Whereas the market in Pecorino Romano cheese is at present disturbed by the existence of stocks which are difficult to sell and which are causing a lowering of prices ; whereas seasonal storage should therefore be introduced for the quantities to improve the situation and allow producers time to find outlets for their cheese; Whereas the detailed rules for the application of such measures should essentially be the same as those laid down for a similar measure during previous years ; Whereas experience of the different private storage arran- gements for agricultural products indicates that it should be specified to what extent Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 (%) is applicable for determination of the periods, dates and time limits mentioned in these arrangements and that the dates of the beginning and end of storage under contract should be precisely defined ; Whereas experience shows that provisions on checks should be laid down, particularly as regards the docu- ments to be submitted and checks to be made on the spot; whereas therefore, it should be provided that Member States require the costs of checks be fully or partly borne by the contractor; Whereas it is approriata to guarantee the continuation of the storage operations in question ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk products, () OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13. () OJ No L 215, 30. 7. 1992, p. 64. () OJ No L 58, 11. 3. 1971, p. 1. () OJ No L 124, 8. 6. 1971, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Aid shall be granted in respect of the private storage of 9000 tonnes of Pecorino Romano cheese manufactured in the Community and satisfying the requirements of Articles 2 and 3. Article 2 1. The intervention agency shall conclude storage contracts only when the following conditions are met: (a) the quantity of cheese to which the contract relates is not less than two tonnes; (b) the cheese was manufactured at least 90 days before the date specified in the contract as being the date of commencement of storage, and after 1 November 1992 (c) the cheese has undergone tests which show that it meets the condition laid down in (b) and that it is of first quality ; (d) the storer undertakes : — to  keep the cheese during the entire period of storage in premises where the maximum tempera- ture is +16°C, — not, during the term of the contract, to alter the composition of the batch which is the subject of the contract without authorization from the inter- vention agency. If the condition concerning the minimum quantity fixed for each batch continues to be met, the intervention agency may authorize an alteration which is limited to the removal or replacement of cheeses which are found to have deteriorated to such an extent that they can no longer be stored. In the event of release from store of certain quan- . tities : (i) if the aforesaid quantities are replaced with the authorization of the intervention agency, the contract is deemed not to have undergone any alteration, (ii) if the aforesaid quantities are not replaced, the contract is deemed to have been concluded ab initio for the quantity permanently retained.