13.8.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 218/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS REGULATION (EC) No 762/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 285(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (}), Whereas: 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 of 22 April 1996 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture production (%) requires the Member States to submit annual data on the volume of production. The increased contribution by aquaculture to the Commu- nity’s total fisheries production requires a wider range of data for a rational development and management of this sector within the Common Fisheries Policy. The increasing importance of hatcheries and nurseries for aquaculture activity requires detailed data for a suitable monitoring and management of this sector within the Common Fisheries Policy. Information on both the volume and value of the production is required to review and assess the market for aquaculture products. Opinion of the European Parliament of 31 January 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 23 June 2008. OJ L 108, 1.5.1996, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). (10) ) Information on the structure of the sector and on the technologies employed is required to ensure an environ- mentally sound industry. Regulation (EC) No 788/96 should be repealed. In order to ensure a smooth transition from the regime applicable under Regulation (EC) No 788/96, this Regula- tion should allow for a transitional period of up to three years to be granted to Member States where its application to their national statistical systems would require major adaptations and would be likely to cause significant practical problems. Since the objective of this Regulation, namely the establish- ment of a common legal framework for systematic production of Community statistics on the aquaculture sector, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (*) provides a reference framework for statistics in the field of fisheries. In particular, it requires conformity with principles of impartiality, reliability, relevance, cost-effectiveness, statistical confidentiality and transparency. The collection and submission of statistical data is an essential tool for the sound management of the Common Fisheries Policy. OJ L 52,22.2.1997, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.