Article 1 
1. France is hereby authorised to grant permits for the application of a differentiated rate of excise duty to the fuel mixture "petrol/ethyl alcohol derivatives whose alcohol component is of agricultural origin". 2. France is hereby authorised to grant permits for the application of a differentiated rate of excise duty to the fuel mixture "diesel/vegetable oil esters". 3. To allow a reduction in excise duty on blends incorporating vegetable oil esters and ethyl alcohol derivatives which are used as fuel within the meaning of Directive 92/81/EEC, the French authorities must issue the necessary permits to the biofuel production units concerned by 31 December 2003 at the latest. The authorisations will be valid for a maximum of six years from the date of issue. The reduction specified in the authorisation may be applied after 31 December 2003 until the expiry of the authorisation. It may not be extended. 4. The reductions in excise duties shall not exceed EUR 35,06/hl or EUR 396,64/t for vegetable oil esters and EUR 50,23/hl or EUR 297,35/t for ethyl alcohol derivatives used in the mixtures referred to in paragraph 1. 5. The rates of duty applicable to the mixtures referred to in paragraph 1 must comply with the terms of Directive 92/82/EEC, and in particular the minimum rates laid down in Articles 4 and 5 thereof. Article 2 1. France is hereby authorised to grant permits for the application of a differentiated rate of excise duty to the mixture "domestic heating fuel/vegetable oil esters". 2. To allow a reduction in excise duty on blends incorporating vegetable oil esters and used as fuel within the meaning of Directive 92/81/EEC, the French authorities must issue the necessary permits to the biofuel production units concerned by 31 December 2003 at the latest. The reduction specified in the authorisation may be applied after 31 December 2003 until the expiry of the authorisation, but may not be extended. 3. The reductions in excise duties shall not exceed EUR 35,06/hl or EUR 396,64/t for the vegetable oil esters used in the mixtures referred to in paragraph 1. 4. The rates of duty applicable to the mixture referred to in paragraph 1 must comply with the terms of Directive 92/82/EEC, and in particular the minimum rate laid down in Article 3 thereof. Article 3 The reductions in excise duty shall be adjusted to take account of changes in the price of raw materials to avoid over-compensating for the extra costs involved in the manufacture of biofuels. Article 4 This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 November 1997. It shall expire on 31 December 2003. Article 5 This Decision is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Brussels, 25 March 2002. For the Council The President A. M. Birulés y Bertrán (1) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (2) Directive published in OJ L 334, 12.12.1985, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 87/441/EEC (OJ L 238, 21.8.1987, p. 40). (3) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41. (4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53. (5) OJ L 79, 25.10.2000, p. 1. (6) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (7) 2000 ECR II-3145 (8) OJ C 60, 24.2.2001, p. 4.
Article 2 
1. France is hereby authorised to grant permits for the application of a differentiated rate of excise duty to the mixture "domestic heating fuel/vegetable oil esters". 2. To allow a reduction in excise duty on blends incorporating vegetable oil esters and used as fuel within the meaning of Directive 92/81/EEC, the French authorities must issue the necessary permits to the biofuel production units concerned by 31 December 2003 at the latest. The authorisations will be valid for a maximum of six years from the date of issue. The reduction specified in the authorisation may be applied after 31 December 2003 until the expiry of the authorisation, but may not be extended. 3. The reductions in excise duties shall not exceed EUR 35,06/hl or EUR 396,64/t for the vegetable oil esters used in the mixtures referred to in paragraph 1. 4. The rates of duty applicable to the mixture referred to in paragraph 1 must comply with the terms of Directive 92/82/EEC, and in particular the minimum rate laid down in Article 3 thereof. Article 3 The reductions in excise duty shall be adjusted to take account of changes in the price of raw materials to avoid over-compensating for the extra costs involved in the manufacture of biofuels. Article 4 This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 November 1997. It shall expire on 31 December 2003. Article 5 This Decision is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Brussels, 25 March 2002. For the Council The President A. M. Birulés y Bertrán (1) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (2) Directive published in OJ L 334, 12.12.1985, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 87/441/EEC (OJ L 238, 21.8.1987, p. 40). (3) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41. (4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53. (5) OJ L 79, 25.10.2000, p. 1. (6) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (7) 2000 ECR II-3145 (8) OJ C 60, 24.2.2001, p. 4.
Article 3 
The reductions in excise duty shall be adjusted to take account of changes in the price of raw materials to avoid over-compensating for the extra costs involved in the manufacture of biofuels. Article 4 This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 November 1997. It shall expire on 31 December 2003. Article 5 This Decision is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Brussels, 25 March 2002. For the Council The President A. M. Birulés y Bertrán (1) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (2) Directive published in OJ L 334, 12.12.1985, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 87/441/EEC (OJ L 238, 21.8.1987, p. 40). (3) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41. (4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53. (5) OJ L 79, 25.10.2000, p. 1. (6) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (7) 2000 ECR II-3145 (8) OJ C 60, 24.2.2001, p. 4.
Article 4 
This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 November 1997. It shall expire on 31 December 2003. Article 5 This Decision is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Brussels, 25 March 2002. For the Council The President A. M. Birulés y Bertrán (1) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (2) Directive published in OJ L 334, 12.12.1985, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 87/441/EEC (OJ L 238, 21.8.1987, p. 40). (3) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41. (4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53. (5) OJ L 79, 25.10.2000, p. 1. (6) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (7) 2000 ECR II-3145 (8) OJ C 60, 24.2.2001, p. 4.
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Brussels, 25 March 2002. For the Council The President A. M. Birulés y Bertrán (1) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (2) Directive published in OJ L 334, 12.12.1985, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 87/441/EEC (OJ L 238, 21.8.1987, p. 40). (3) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41. (4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53. (5) OJ L 79, 25.10.2000, p. 1. (6) Directive published in OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/74/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 46). (7) 2000 ECR II-3145 (8) OJ C 60, 24.2.2001, p. 4.