Fruit and vegetables: common organisation of the market COM

OBJECTIVE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables. CONTENT: in implementing the conclusions of the Council of agriculture ministers of 22-26 June 1998, the proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 makes provision for: - an extension of the right of recognised producer organisations to authorise their members to sell a limited proportion of their production directly to consumers (so far such direct sales have been limited in volume and may only take place on the holding). In order to take account of standard local practice, it is proposed that such direct sales be allowed away from the holding of the producer in question, but no change should be made in the present volume restriction; - the establishment of a legal basis permitting the defrayal of transport, sorting and packaging costs of all free distribution of products withdrawn from the market, on terms and conditions to be determined once the management committee has delivered its opinion.�