Leaf tobacco: premiums and guarantee thresholds for 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests (amend. regul. 2075/92/EEC)

PURPOSE: to reform the COM in raw tabacco in order to better adapt supply to demand. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council regulation 660/1999/EC amending regulation 2075/92/EEC and fixing the premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and Member State for the 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests. CONTENT: the amendment of regulation 2075/92/EEC fixes the premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and Member State for the 1999, 2000 and 2001 harvests. As a result of the increase in supplementary amounts for flue-cured; light air-cured and dark air-cured tobaccos grown in Austria, Belgium, France and Germany, it is necessary to reduce the guarantee thresholds of these Member States in order to ensure the maintenance of budget neutrality. While maintaining production potential and the allocation of quotas by Member States, it is proposed that quotas for varieties which have assured outlets and attract high market prices should be increased progressively to the detriment of quotas for varieties which are difficult to sell and attract low market prices. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22/03/1999.�