16. 12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 345/17 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2500/97 of 15 December 1997 establishing the supply balance for pigmeat for the Azores and Madeira and amending Regulation (EEC) No 1725/92 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2348/96 (%), and in particular Article 10 thereof, Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1725/92 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/97 (), fixes, for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997, the quantities in the supply balance which qualify for exemption from the levy on direct imports from third countries or for aid for consignments originating in the rest of the Com- munity and the numbers of pure-bred breeding animals originating in the Community and qualifying for aid for the development of the production potential of the Azores and Madeira; Whereas, pending a communication from the competent authorities updating the requirements for the Azores and Madeira and in order to avoid a break in the application of the specific supply arrangements, the balance was drawn up for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 by Regulation (EEC) No 1725/92; whereas the balance for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 has been drawn up following the presentation of data on the requirements for the Azores and Madeira by the Portuguese authorities; whereas the Annexes to Regulation (EEC) No 1725/92 should accordingly by replaced by the Annexes hereto; Whereas the supply balances provided for in these specific supply arrangements are drawn up for the period 1 July to 30 June; whereas the definitive supply balance should therefore apply from the beginning of that period, ie. 1 July 1997; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Pigmeat, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EEC) No 1725/92 are hereby replaced by the Annex hereto. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communittes. It shall apply with effect from 1 July 1997. However, the aid fixed in Annex II shall apply from 1 January 1998. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 15 December 1997. OJ L 173, 27. 6. 1992, p. 1. J L 320, 11. 12. 1996, p. 1. OJ L 179, 1. 7. 1992, p. 95. OJ L 265, 27. 9. 1997, p. 67. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission