(1)

The pigmeat sector has been in serious difficulties for a number of months. Severe slowdown of exports to China, further spread of African swine fever to more Member States and continuing impact of COVID-19 restrictions are causing pressure on the Union market for slaughter pigs.

(2)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created additional market disturbance and impacted severely the Union pigmeat exports. As a result, there has been a sharp drop of export demand for certain pigmeat products.

(3)

In order to reduce the current supply-demand imbalance, it is appropriate to grant aid for private storage for pigmeat and to fix the amount of aid in advance.

(4)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238 (3) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1240 (4), which lay down specific rules for the implementation of the aid for private storage, should apply to the aid for private storage for pigmeat save as otherwise provided for in this Regulation.

(5)

The amount of the aid should be fixed in advance so as to allow for a rapid and flexible operational system for the operators. In accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013, the amount of aid is to be fixed on the basis of storage costs and other relevant market elements. It is appropriate to set a fixed aid rate.

(6)

For aid for private storage to be effective and have a real impact on the market, the aid should be granted only for the products that have not yet been placed in storage.

(7)

In order to facilitate the management of the measure, the pigmeat products should be classified in categories according to similarities with regard to the level of storage cost.

(8)

For reasons of administrative efficiency and simplification, the minimum quantity of products to be covered by each application should be fixed.

(9)

A security should be fixed in order to ensure the operators fulfil their contractual obligations and that the measure will have its desired effect on the market.

(10)

Article 42(1), point (b), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1240 provides that Member States are to notify the Commission of admissible applications once per week. In order to ensure transparency, monitoring and proper administration of the amounts available for the aid, more frequent notifications are necessary for the effective managing the scheme. A derogation from the notification frequency should therefore be provided for.

(11)

In order to have an immediate impact on the market and to contribute to stabilise prices, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(12)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

(a)

each Monday by 12.00 (Brussels time) the quantities for which applications have been submitted on Thursday and Friday of the preceding week;

(b)

each Thursday by 12.00 (Brussels time) the quantities for which applications have been submitted on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the same week.