Article 2 Recognition and preliminary recognition

By way of derogation from Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1432/2003 and Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, the new Member States may decide to consider producer organisations or groups which have been recognised before 1 May 2004 in accordance with national legislation, either as recognised producer organisations or producer groups granted preliminary recognition under Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 (hereinafter referred to as ‘recognised producer organisations’ and ‘recognised producer groups’).

The new Member States shall notify each producer organisation or group recognised in accordance with national legislation before 1 May 2004 of the decision concerning its recognition, as provided for in the first subparagraph, as soon as possible after 1 May 2004.

The decision referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply from the date of its notification until 31 December 2005.

The new Member States shall communicate to the Commission, within 30 days following the notification of the decision referred to in paragraph 1, the information referred to in Article 12(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 and Article 17(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1432/2003 concerning producer organisations and producer groups respectively, which have been recognised or refused recognition in accordance with this Regulation.