Commission Regulation (EC) No 335/2003 of 21 February 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops

Commission Regulation (EC) No 335/2003
of 21 February 2003
amending Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1038/2001(2), and in particular Article 9 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 327/2002(4), lays down detailed rules for applying Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 with respect to the conditions for granting area payments for certain arable crops and lays down the conditions for set aside.
(2) Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1017/94 of 26 April 1994 concerning the conversion of land currently under arable crops to extensive livestock farming in Portugal(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2582/2001(6), applications have been submitted for conversion of an area equivalent to 29575 hectares. The base area should therefore be adjusted accordingly.
(3) In response to applications by Belgium, new base areas should be fixed in accordance with the regionalisation plan of the Member State concerned.
(4) The Member States have notified the results of the tests to determine the tetrahydrocannabinol levels in the hemp varieties sown in 2002. Those results should be taken into account when drawing up the list of hemp varieties qualifying for area payments in the coming marketing years and the list of varieties temporarily accepted for 2003/04, which will require further testing during that marketing year.
(5) Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,