21.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 114[3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 732/2004 of 20 April 2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of rice from the 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests held by the Spanish intervention agency THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in rice ("), and in particular Article 8(b) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EEC) No 75/91 of 11 January 1991 laying down the procedures and conditions for the disposal of paddy rice held by intervention agencies (%) provides among other things that rice held by interven- tion agencies is to be sold by tendering procedure at prices avoiding market disturbance. (2)  Spain still has intervention stocks of paddy rice from the 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests, the quality of which is in danger of deteriorating if kept in prolonged storage. (3)  In the present production situation and in view of the concessions for rice imports granted under international agreements and the restrictions on subsidised exports, disposing of this rice on traditional markets inside the Community would inevitably result in the placing of an equivalent quantity in intervention, which should be avoided. (4)  This rice can be disposed of by processing it into either broken rice or products derived therefrom, or into some other form suitable for use in animal feed, on certain conditions. (5)  In order to ensure that the rice really is processed, the procedure should be specially monitored and the successful tenderer should provide a security, to be released on conditions to be laid down. (6)  The undertakings given by tenderers must be regarded as primary requirements within the meaning of Commis- sion Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 of 22 July 1985 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products (). () O L 329, 30.12.1995, p. 18. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 411/2002 (O] L 62, 5.3.2002, p. 27). () OJL9,12.1.1991, p. 15. () OJ L 205, 3.8.1985, p. 5. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1932/1999 (O] L 240, 10.9.1999, p. 11). (7 Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92 (*) lays down common detailed rules for verifying the use of products from intervention. Procedures should also be laid down to ensure the traceability of the products used for animal feed. (8)  So that the quantities awarded can be managed accu- rately, an allocation coefficient should be fixed for tenders offering the minimum selling price, while allowing tenderers to specify a minimum quantity awarded below which they do not wish their tender to stand. (99  When the Spanish intervention agency notifies the Commission, the tenderers should remain anonymous. (10)  While respecting the tenderers' anonymity, they should be identified by numbers so that it is evident which have submitted several tenders and what prices they have offered. (11)  For control purposes, tenders must be traceable by their reference numbers, while safeguarding anonymity. (12)  With a view to modernising management, the informa- tion required by the Commission should be sent by elec- tronic mail. (13)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Atrticle 1 The Spanish intervention agency shall launch a standing invita- tion to tender for the sale on the internal market of the Com- munity of quantities of rice from the 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests held by it and previously notified to the Commission under Regulation (EEC) No 75/91, as set out in Annex I hereto, with a view to its processing into either broken rice within the meaning of Annex A.3 to Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 or products derived therefrom, or into some other form suitable for use in animal feed (CN code 2309). () OJ L 301, 17.10.1992, p. 17. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 770/96 (O] L 104, 27.4.1996, p. 13).