Commission Regulation (EC) No 1299/2007 of 6 November 2007 on the recognition of producer groups for hops (Codified version)

1 The common rules referred to in Article 7(2)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1952/2005 shall be laid down in writing. These rules shall comprise at least: (a) as regards production: (i) provisions concerning the use of one or more specified varieties when renewing plantations or creating new ones; (ii) provisions concerning compliance with certain methods of cultivation and plant protection; (iii) provisions concerning harvesting, drying and, where appropriate, preparation for marketing; (b) as regards placing on the market, particularly where concentration and conditions of supply are concerned: (i) general provisions governing sales by the group; (ii) provisions relating to the quantities which the producers are authorised to sell themselves and the rules governing these sales.

2 ‘The first marketing stage’ means the sale of hops by the producer himself or, in the case of a producers' group, the sale of hops by its members to the wholesale trade or to the user industries.

1 If it is to be recognised, a producer group must include areas of at least 60 hectares and at least seven producers. In the case of Greece, the minimum number of hectares shall be reduced to 30.

2 In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1952/2005, a Member State may be authorised, on request, to recognise a group whose registered areas comprise less than 60 hectares, if the areas are situated in a recognised production region covering less than 100 hectares.

The following documents and information shall accompany any application for recognition: (a) the statute; (b) the names of persons authorised to act on behalf of the group; (c) a list of the activities justifying the request for recognition; (d) evidence that the provisions of Article 2 have been complied with.

1 Member States shall take a decision on the application for recognition within three months of its receipt.

2 Recognition of a group shall be withdrawn if the conditions laid down for recognition are no longer fulfilled or if such recognition is based on incorrect information. Recognition shall be withdrawn with retroactive effect if it has been obtained or used fraudulently.

3 Member States shall exercise continuous supervision over the observance by recognised groups of the conditions for their recognition.

1 Where a Member State grants, refuses or withdraws recognition of a group it shall so inform the Commission within two months following the communication of its decision to the applicant and indicate the reasons for refusing an application for recognition or of withdrawing recognition.

2 At the beginning of each calendar year the Commission shall ensure publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the list of groups which were recognised during the previous calendar year as well as those whose recognition was withdrawn during the same period.

Regulation (EEC) No 1351/72 is repealed. References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.