Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 is amended as follows:

1. 1..

   Article 3 is deleted;

2. 2..

   the following Article 3a is inserted:

   ‘Article 3a

   Member States shall monitor nitrate levels in vegetables containing significant levels, in particular green leafy vegetables, and communicate the results to the Commission by 30 June each year.’;

3. 3..

   the following Article 3b is inserted:

   ‘Article 3b

   1.

   By way of derogation from Article 1(1), Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are authorised until 31 December 2008 to place on the market fresh spinach grown and intended for consumption in their territory with nitrate levels higher than the maximum levels set out in point 1.1 of Annex I.

   2.

   By way of derogation from Article 1(1), Ireland and the United Kingdom are authorised until 31 December 2008 to place on the market fresh lettuce grown and intended for consumption in their territory and harvested throughout the year with nitrate levels higher than the maximum levels set out in point 1.3 of Annex I.

   By way of derogation from Article 1(1), France is authorised until 31 December 2008 to place on the market fresh lettuce grown and intended for consumption in its territory and harvested from 1 October to 31 March with nitrate levels higher than the maximum levels set out in point 1.3 of Annex I.’;

4. 4..

   Section 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 is replaced by the table as laid down in the Annex to this Regulation.