20.7.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 187/27 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1573/1999 of 19 July 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 as regards the characteristics of dried figs qualifying for aid under the production aid scheme THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products ('), as amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2199/97 (3, and in particular Article 4(9) thereof, (1)  Whereas Title I of Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 intro- duced a sytem of production aid for certain processed products obtained from fruit and vegetables; whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/97 of 19 March 1997 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 as regards the system of production aid for products processed from fruit and vegetables (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 702/1999 (¥, laid down general rules applicable to that system of aid; whereas without prejudice to the other provisions of Regulation (EC) No 504/97 certain specific rules have to be laid down for the characteristics required of dried figs if they are to qualify for produc- tion aid; (2)  Whereas the quality of dried figs before and after processing is variable; whereas the minimum price and production aid should be fixed for a specific type of product; whereas Community production is character- ised by two types of dried fig, small-fruit and others; whereas the essential characteristic which distinguishes the market price of both types is their size; whereas the minimum price and the aid should therefore be fixed for the most representative size class for each of the two types of dried figs intended for direct consumption, and the price and aid applicable to the other sizes should be derived from these prices and aid rates; (3)  Whereas the aim of minimum quality requirements laid down in Article 4(4)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 is to avoid the production of products for which there is no demand or which would cause distortion of the market; whereas those requirements must be based on traditional, fair manufacturing procedures; whereas, to ensure compliance with these provisions, the minium characteristics required of unprocessed dried figs purchased by processors and dried figs qualifying for aid should be defined; 97, 21.11.1996, p. 29. 03, 6.11.1997, p. 1. 8, 20.3.1997, p. 14. 9, 1.4.1999, p. 26. Z3T= o000 LLLL laials 00 1w N (4) Whereas, to ensure uniform application, rules should be laid down on carrying out checks on the characteristics of dried figs before and after processing; (5)  Whereas certain requirements of this Regulation call for far-reaching adjustments of the production and processing sector; whereas these requirements must therefore be introduced progressively over the five marketing years following the entry into force of this Regulation; (6)  Whereas this Regulation incorporates the provisions specific to figs in Articles 1 and 2 of Commission Regu- lation (EEC) No 1709/84 of 19 June 1984 on minimum prices payable to producers and amounts of production aid for certain processed fruit and vegetables eligible for production aid (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1591/98 (%), updated in line with legal, technical and economic developments; whereas, therefore, Articles 1 and 2 of and Annexes I, II and III to that Regulation should be repealed; (7)  Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Products Processed from Fruit and Veget- ables, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. To qualify for payment of the minium price, unprocessed dried figs shall correspond to the characteristics set out in Annex 1L 2. To qualify for payment of aid, dried figs and fig paste shall correspond to the characteristics set out in Annex IIL 3. The minium price payable to the producer for unpro- cessed dried figs and the production aid for dried figs shall be fixed for the products corresponding to the characteristics laid down in Annexes II and III respectively and between 75 and 105 fruits per kilogram in size for small-fruit varieties and between 65 and 85 fruits per kilogram in size for other vari- eties. For other dried figs the minium price and the amount of aid shall be multiplied by one of the coefficients listed in Annex L. () O] L 162, 20.6.1984, p. 8. (9 O] L 208, 24.7.1998, p. 14.