L 160/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 26.6.1999 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1253/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the common organisation of the market of cereals and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2731/75 fixing standard qualities for common wheat, rye, barley, maize and durum wheat THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (4), Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Auditors (3), (1)  Whereas after the 1992 reform of the common agricultural policy, there has been a particular improvement in market balances; (2)  Whereas set-aside under the support system for producers of certain arable crops introduced in 1992 in addition to a lowering of the intervention price, has helped to keep production under  control,  while  increased  price competitiveness  has  allowed  significant additional cereals quantities to be used on the domestic market, mainly for animal feed. (3)  Whereas, subject to increases of area payments under the arable crops support system as laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 Yy OJ C 170, 4.6.1998, p. 1. (?) Opinion delivered on 6 May 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 284, 14.9.1998, p. 55. () O] C93,6.4.1999, p. 1. (%) O] C 401, 22.12.1998, p. 3. of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops(®), to reinforce the effect of the 1992 reform, price competitiveness should be strengthened by a further cut in the intervention price, bringing it down in two steps to a safety-net level; whereas the intervention price, if necessary, will be subject to a final reduction, in particular to ensure a better market balance; (4) Whereas the provisions of standard quality no longer have any practical relevance and should, therefore, be withdrawn; (5)  Whereas since the non cereal starch price and compensation arrangements have always been governed by the common organisation of the market in cereals, the adjustment of those arrangements should follow the measures taken for cereals, whereby the minimum price for potatoes intended for the manufacture of potato starch and the payments for producers of such potatoes should, therefore, be adapted in line with the price reduction for cereals; whereas the payment for producers is fixed at a higher level than the equivalent one for cereals, taking into account that the production quotas set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 of 27 July 1994 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch(’) are being decreased; (6) Whereas tariff quotas resulting from agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty or from any other act of the Council should be opened and administered by the Commission on the basis of detailed rules; (7)  Whereas, taking into account the influence of the world market price on the internal price, the () See page 1 of this Official Journal. (7 OJ L 197, 30.7.1994, p. 4. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1284/98 (OJ L 178, 23.6.1998, p. 3).