Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

Transitional measures should be adopted to allow producers and processors in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (hereinafter the new Member States) to benefit from the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products^f1.

According to Articles 10 and 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1535/2003 of 29 August 2003 laying down detailed rules for applying Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 as regards the aid scheme for products processed from fruit and vegetables^f2, certain information concerning tomatoes has to be submitted before 31 March each year. This deadline should be postponed for the new Member States for 2004, the original date being too early to complete the necessary administrative procedures.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Products Processed from Fruit and Vegetables,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: