Article 126

1. Where one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph 2 is pursued by a recognised interbranch organisation in the tobacco sector and is in the general economic interest of those persons whose activities relate to one or more of the products concerned, the Member State which has granted recognition, or the Commission, without the assistance of the Committee referred to in Article 195(1), where recognition has been granted by the Commission, may decide that individuals or groups which are not members of the organisation but which benefit from those activities shall pay the organisation all or part of the subscriptions paid by its members to the extent that such subscriptions are intended to cover costs, other than administrative costs of any description, directly incurred as a result of pursuing the activities in question. 2. The activities referred to in paragraph 1 shall relate to one of the following objectives: research to add value to the products, in particular through new uses which do not pose a threat to public health; studies to improve the quality of leaf or baled tobacco; research into methods of cultivation permitting reduced use of plant health products and guaranteeing conservation of the soil and the environment. 3. The Member States concerned shall notify the Commission of decisions which they intend to take under paragraph 1. Such decisions may not apply before the expiry of a three month period starting from the date of notification to the Commission. Within that three month period the Commission may call for the rejection of all or part of the draft decision if the general economic interest put forward does not appear to be well founded. 4. Where the activities of an interbranch organisation recognised by the Commission in accordance with this Chapter are in the general economic interest, the Commission shall notify its draft decision to the Member States concerned, who shall then have two months to make their comments.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.