L’articolo 18, paragrafo 2, del regolamento (CE) n. 1260/2001 prevede che, se l’importo del contributo alla produzione di base era inferiore all’importo massimo di cui all’articolo 15, paragrafo 3, o se l’importo del contributo B era inferiore all’importo massimo di cui all’articolo 15, paragrafo 4, riveduto all’occorrenza conformemente all’articolo 15, paragrafo 5, i fabbricanti di zucchero dovevano versare ai venditori di barbabietole il 60 % della differenza tra l’importo massimo del contributo di cui trattasi e l’importo del contributo esigibile.
Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 provided that when a basic production levy was lower than the maximum amount referred to in Article 15(3) or when the B levy referred to in that Article was lower than the maximum amount referred to in Article 15(4) of that Regulation, adjusted, where necessary, in accordance with Article 15(5), sugar manufacturers were to pay back beet sellers 60 % of the difference between the maximum amount of the levy concerned and the levy to be charged.