Commission Decision

of 3 November 2000

on financial aid from the Community for the operation of certain Community reference laboratories in the veterinary public health field (residues)

(notified under document number C(2000) 3163)

(Only the German, French, Italian and Dutch texts are authentic)

(2000/704/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(2), and in particular Article 28(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Community financial aid should be granted to the Community reference laboratories designated by the Community to assist them in carrying out the functions and duties laid down in Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products(3).

(2) Community assistance must be conditional on the accomplishment of those functions and duties by the laboratory concerned.

(3) For budgetary reasons, Community assistance should be granted for a period of one year.

(4) For financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy shall be applicable.

(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The Community grants financial assistance to the Netherlands for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V, Chapter 2, to Directive 96/23/EC to be carried out by the Rijksinstituut voor de Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiëne, Bilthoven, the Netherlands, for the detection of residues of certain substances.

2. The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 400000 for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

Article 2

1. The Community grants financial assistance to France for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V, Chapter 2, to Directive 96/23/EC to be carried out by the Laboratoire de L'Agence Française Sanitaire des aliments, (formerly the Laboratoire des médicaments vétérinaires), Fougéres, France, for the detection of residues of certain substances.

2. The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 400000 for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

Article 3

1. The Community grants financial assistance to Germany for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V, Chapter 2 to Directive 96/23/EC to be carried out by the Bundesinstitut für gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin (formerly the Institut für Veterinärmedizin), Berlin, Germany, for the detection of residues of certain substances.

2. The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 400000 for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

Article 4

1. The Community grants financial assistance to Italy for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V, Chapter 2, to Directive 96/23/EC to be carried out by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy, for the detection of residues of certain substances.

2. The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 400000 for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

Article 5

The Community's financial assistance shall be paid as follows:

(a) Advance payment of 70 % of the total amount may be paid at the request of the recipient Member State.

(b) The remainder is paid following presentation of supporting documents and technical report by the recipient Member State which must be done at the latest three months after the end of the period for which financial assistance has been granted.

Article 6

Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 7

This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Done at Brussels, 3 November 2000.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.

(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

(3) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10.