L 327)28 Official Journal of the European Communities 21.12.1999 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2712/1999 of 20 December 1999 on the opening of a standing invitation to tender for the sale of olive oil held by the Spanish and Greek intervention agencies THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the estab- lishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats (), and in particular Article 3(1) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2754/78 of 23 November 1978 on intervention in the olive oil sector (3), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2203/ 90 (), lays down that the sale of olive oil held by intervention agencies must be by tender; (2)  in accordance with Article 12(1) of Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC (¥, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1638/98, in force until 31 October 1998, the Spanish and Greek intervention agencies currently hold certain quantities of olive oil; (3)  Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2960/77 of 23 December 1977 on detailed rules for the sale of olive oil held by intervention agencies (°), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3818/85 (%), lays down the condi- tions for the sale by tender on the Community market and for export of olive oil. The situation on the market in olive oil currently favours the sale of the oil in question; (4)  market demand for virgin olive oils not directly edible exceeds supply. In order to provide the greatest possible number of operators with the minimum supplies required to meet their immediate needs, an upper limit should be placed on the quantity for which each oper- ator may submit a tender; (5) special rules must be laid down to ensure that the operations are properly carried out and monitored; (6)  to that end the Member States must provide for all additional measures compatible with the provisions in force to ensure that the operations take place smoothly and that the Commission is kept informed; (7)  the monitoring arrangements should accordingly be supplemented by allowing a reference sample to be taken; L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 32. L 331, 28.11.1978, p. 13. L 201, 31.7.1990, p. 5. 172, 30.9.1966, p. 3025/66. L 348, 30.12.1977, p. 46. L 368, 31.12.1985, p. 20. (8)  the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Qils and Fats, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. The Spanish intervention agency, Fondo Espafiol de Garantfa Agraria, hereinafter referred to as FEGA’, and the Greek intervention agency, Diefthinsi Diachiriseos Agoron Georgikon Proionton, hereinafter referred to as ‘DIDAGEP, shall open invitations to tender in accordance with this Regula- tion and Regulation (EEC) No 2960/77 for the sale on the Community market of virgin olive oil, the details of which shall be specified in the invitations to tender in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 2960/77. The quantities to be sold, before deduction of the quantities reserved in the 2000 financial year for the most deprived persons in the Community, shall be approximately 11 000 tonnes and 12 000 tonnes respectively. 2. Notwithstanding Article 5(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2960/77, where the quantity of oil in a container exceeds 500 tonnes, the Spanish and Greek intervention agencies shall be authorised to divide that quantity into several lots. Article 2 The invitations to tender shall be published on 18 January 2000. Details of the lots of oil offered for sale and of the places where they are stored shall be displayed respectively at the central office of FEGA, calle Beneficencia, 8, E-28004 Madrid, and at the central office of DIDAGEP, Acharnon 241, GR-11253 Athens. Copies of the invitations to tender shall be sent forthwith to the Commission. Article 3 Tenders must reach the central offices of the intervention agen- cies referred to in Article 2 not later than 2 p.m. (local time) on 8 February 2000. Unsold lots shall be offered for sale in a second invitation to tender. In that case, tenders must reach the intervention agen- cies concerned not later than 2 p.m. (local time) on 29 February 2000.