7. 3. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 63/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 572/89 of 2 March 1989 amending Regulation (EEC) No 468/87 laying down general rules applying to the special premium for beef producers THE COUNCIL OF THE -EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 571/89 (), and in particular Article 4a thereof,- Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas, from 3 April 1989, the special premium for beef producers introduced by Article 4a of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 will be applicable in all Member States ; Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 1346/86 of 6 May 1986 on the granting of a calf birth premium in Ireland, Italy and Northern Ireland and ‘on the granting of an additional national premium in Italy (%), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 4132/88 (*), expires on 2 April 1989 ; whereas there is as a result no longer any justifi- cation for the reduction in the special premium in Ireland specified in Article 2 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 468/87 (°) or.for the derogation specified in Article 2 (3) of the said Regulation ; Whereas Member States should be allowed, in line with normal ‘commercial - practice, to grant the premium on slaughter or when the animals are first placed on the market for slaughter; whereas appropriate conditions on the granting of the premium and on surveillance must be laid down and these must include administrative measures to ensure that the restriction on the number of qualifying animals is complied with ; whereas it is also necessary-to ensure that the premium is passed on to the producer ; Whereas the smooth operation of the arrangements might be disrupted were the premium to be applied differently in Ireland and in Northern Ireland ; whereas therefore the ()'OJ No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 24. () OJ No L 61, 4. 3. 1989, p. 43. () OJ No L 119, 8. 5. 1986, p. 39. () O] No L 362, 30. 12. 1988, p. 4. () OJ No L 48, 17. 2. 1987, p. 4. United Kingdom should be authorized to apply the premium .in Northern Ireland in a manner different from that governing its application in the. other regions of its territory, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 468/87 is hereby amended as follows : 1. Article 2 is replaced by the following : Article 2 1. Each animal shall qualify only once -in its lifetime for application of the premium referred to in Article 4a of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68. Only animals which are at least six months old at the date of-the lodging of a request for a premium may be the subject of such a request. Member States may raise the minimum age for animals” eligibility to 12 months. In this case, the requests for a premium ‘may not be lodged before the minimum age required less the period during which the animal is held for the period laid down for the purposes of surveillance. 2.  The premium amount shall be paid in a single instalment.’ ; 2. Article 4 is replaced by the following: Article 4 1. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 2 (1) and from Article 3 (1) and (3), Member States may decide to. grant: the premium, in their territory,- on the slaughter of animals. In this case: (a) male animals with a carcase weight of at least 200 kilograms shall qualify, irrespective of age ; (b) Member States may stipulate that premium requests be lodged after each slaughtering.