Article 2
1. Notwithstanding Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 2173/79, the provisions of and Annexes to this Regulation shall serve as a general notice of invitation to tender. The intervention agencies concerned shall draw up a notice of invitation to tender which shall include the following: (a) the quantities of beef offered for sale; and (b) the deadline and place for submitting tenders. 2. Interested parties may obtain the details of the quantities available and the places where the products are stored from the addresses listed in Annex II to this Regulation. The intervention agencies shall, in addition, display the notice referred to in paragraph 1 at their head offices and may publish it in other ways. 3. For each product mentioned in Annex I the intervention agencies concerned shall sell first the meat which has been stored the longest. However, with a view to better stock management and after notifying the Commission, the Member States may designate only certain cold stores or parts thereof for deliveries of meat sold under this Regulation. 4. Only tenders which reach the intervention agencies concerned by 12 noon on 18 May 1999 shall be considered. 5. Notwithstanding Article 8(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2173/79, a tender shall be submitted to the intervention agency concerned in a closed envelope, bearing the reference to the Regulation concerned. The closed envelope shall not be opened by the intervention agency before the expiry of the tender deadline referred to in paragraph 4. 6. Notwithstanding Article 8(2)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 2173/79, tenders shall not indicate in which cold store or stores the products are held.