Dried fodder: common organisation of the market COM

The proposal in question was introduced in response to the wish expressed by the Council, during the introduction of the reform of the CAP in 1992, that the aid system for dried fodder be continued, and is aimed at implementing a political agreement on this new system of aid. It was proposed that a flat-rate aid payment of ECU 57 per tonne be set for artificially-dried fodder, and ECU 32 per tonne for sun-dried fodder. This aid would be limited to a maximum guaranteed quantity of 4.394 million tonnes for artificially-dried fodder and 432,500 tonnes for sun-dried fodder. The maximum guaranteed quantities (MGQs) are to be distributed between Member States (national guaranteed quantities - NGQs) on the basis of their production for which aid was received in the marketing years 1992/93 and 1993/94. If, in the Community of Twelve, production exceeds the MGQ, the amount of aid shall be reduced by 1%, for all producers, for the first 5% by which the MGQ is exceeded. In the event of a larger excess, the aid shall be reduced in those Member States which have exceeded their NGQ by more than 5%. The reduction in aid shall be proportionate to the amount by which this 5% threshold is exceeded. As the final amount of aid allocated is not known until the end of the marketing year, an advance payment may be made which is equivalent to ECU 28.5 per tonne for artificially-dried fodder and ECU 16 per tonne for sun-dried fodder. It is proposed that the marketing year should begin on 1 April and terminate on 31 March. As regards measures relating to trade with third countries, the text which is proposed takes into consideration the implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round. �