No L 69/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 3. 88 ’ COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 663/88 of 11 March 1988 continuing the measures referred to in Regulations (EEC) No 723/78 and (EEC) No 1024/78 on market research measures within and outside the Community in respect of milk and milk products THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1079/77 of 17 May 1977 on a co-responsibility levy and on measures for expanding the markets in milk and milk products ("), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1894/85 (%), and in particular Article 4 thereof, Whereas the market research measures within and outside the Community, first carried out pursuant to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 723/78 () and (EEC) No 1024/78 (%), and most recently continued by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1150/86 (), have proved an effective means of expanding the markets in milk products within and outside the Community; whereas they should therefore be continued in the medium term; Whereas the research institutes, organizations and private undertakings in the Community possessing the necessary qualifications and experience sliould be invited again to propose detailed research programmes which these organizations would themselves carry out; Whereas the research institutes, organizations and private undertakings who will be responsible for the measures must satisfy certain requirements; whereas the activities - of such operators must not be liable to clash with the aim pursued in promoting the disposal of milk products for direct consumption ; whereas it is therefore essential that operators whose activities also cover the production, distribution or sales promotion of products which imitate milk and milk products should be barred from the imple- mentation of the measures ; Whereas, as regards the. other arrangements, the provi- sions of the earlier Regulation, amended in the light of relevant experience, may be repéated ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : } Article 1 1. Under the conditions laid down in this Regulation, encouragement shall be given to research work designed () OJ No L 131, 26. 5. 1977, p. 6. @ OJ No L 182, 3. 7. 1987, p 2. () O] No L 98, 11. 4. 1978, 49 O)J No L 334 18. 12. 1979 p 13. () OJ No L 105, 22. 4. 1986, p. 8. to expand the markets for Community milk and milk products inside and outside the Community. Such work shall include the following: (a) research into new or improved products; (b) where a special case is made, research aimed at improving the marketing "of dairy products in the Community ; (c) the search for new markets or the possibility of exten- ding existing markets' outside the Community. Research work, destined to countries which had been already subject to enquiries under Regulatxon (EEC) No 1024/78, may be considered only in especially justified cases ; (d) scientific examination of the nutritional aspects of the . consumption of milk and_ its constituents ; (e) in particularly justified cases, the evaluation and disse-- mination of the results obtained by research work. Work intended to continue measures carried out or being carried out under Commission Regulations (EEC) No 282/84 () and (EEC) No 1150/86 cannot be considered except if the results obtained.justify their continuation and/or until the complementary aspects are examined. 2. Measures liable to prejudice existing Community trade in milk products with the country concerned shall not be taken into consideration. » 3. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be eligible for financing only if they have begun after 31 March 1988 and shall be completed within two years of signature of the contract referred to in Article 5 (3), in any event before 1 December 1990. In exceptional cases, however, a longer period may be agreed in accordance with Article 5 (2) to ensure maximum effectiveness of the measure concerned. 4. The time limit fixed in paragraph 3 shall not prevent. subsequent agreement to an extension of that time limit where the party to a contract before the fixed - expiry date, makes the appropriate application to the competent authority and proves that, due to exceptional circumstances beyond his control, he is unable to meet the deadline originally stipulated. The time limit must not be extended by more than six months. () OJ No L 32, 3. 2. 1984, p. 25.