No L 353/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 3.12. 92 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3484/92 of 27 November 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 on the common organization of the ' markets in the sugar sector THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (9, Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas Article 303 of the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal provides for the implementation of a preferential system for the adequate supply of raw sugar to the Portu- guese refineries during a seven-year period following accession ; whereas this preferential system involves the application of a reduced levy for imports of raw sugar from third countries for that purpose and the use of available supplies of raw cane and beet sugar harvested in the Community eligible under the arrangements laid down by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2225/86 of 15 July 1986 laying down measures for the marketing of sugar produced in the French overseas departments and for the equalization of the price conditions with preferen- tial raw sugar (*) and available supplies of preferential raw sugar as referred to in Article 33 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 of 30 June 1981 on the common orga- nization of the markets in the sugar sector (%) ; whereas the abovementioned transitional period ends on 31 December 1992 ; Whereas, under the terms of the declaration of the Euro- pean Economic Community on supplies to the sugar re- fining industry in Portugal annexed to the Act of Acces- sion of Spain and Portugal, the Community is prepared to carry out, before the end of the transitional period, an overall examination of the supply situation of the refining industry in the Community and in particular of the Portuguese industry, on the basis of a report from the Commission accompanied if necessary by proposals permitting the Council to decide, if need be, on the measures to be taken ; () OJ No C 265, 14. 10. 1992, p. 3. () Opinion delivered on 20 November 1992 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Opinion delivered on 24 November 1992 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No L 194,717. 7. 1986, p. 7. () OJ No L 177, 1. 1. 1981, p. 4. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 61/92 (O] No L 6, 11. 1. 1992, p. 19). Whereas the Community must also determine, before 1 January 1993, the production system to apply throughout the sector from 1 July 1993 ; whereas it is advisable, therefore, in order not to anticipate the system to be chosen, to determine at the same time the rules for future supply to Portuguese and other Community re- fineries ; Whereas, in order not to interrupt supplies to Portuguese refineries when the preferential scheme provided for in Article 303 of the Act of Accession comes to an end on 31 December 1992, it is necessary to extend, on a transi- tional basis, the said scheme by including its provisions in Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81, with the appropriate changes, and to make the provisions applicable throughout the period so as to cover the period until the new production system. in the sugar sector comes into effect, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 is hereby amended as follows : 1. the first subparagraph of Article 9 (4c) shall be replaced by the following: ‘4c.  From 1 January to 30 June 1993, adjustment aid shall be granted, as an intervention measure, to the refining industry in Portugal for quantities of raw sugar imported from third countries under the terms of Article 16a.’; ~ 2. the following Article shall be added: Article 16a 1. From 1 January to 30 June 1993, a reduced levy shall be charged on raw cane sugar originating in Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Swaziland which is imported into mainland Portugal, up to a maximum quantity of 37 500 tonnes expressed as white sugar. 2. Where, during the period referred to in paragraph 1, the Community forward estimate for raw sugar in- dicates that the availability of raw sugar is insufficient to ensure adequate supply of Portuguese refineries, the Portuguese Republic may be authorized to import from third countries, at a reduced levy and in respect of the said period, the quantities which are estimated to be lacking.