L 305/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 22.11.2001 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 29 November 2000 on the aid scheme ‘Subsidieregeling weegapparatuur en geautomatiseerde bemonsteringsappara- tuur’ which the Netherlands is planning to implement for small and medium-sized manure trans- port companies (notified under document number C(2000) 3935) (Only the Dutch text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/806/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (') and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 27 July 1999, registered as received on 31 August 1999 (A[36575), the Netherlands notified the Commission of the aid scheme ‘Subsidieregeling weegap- paratuur en geautomatiseerde bemonsteringsapparatuur’ (hereinafter SWB). By letter dated 17 April 2000 (SG (2000)/D 103197), the Commission informed the Netherlands that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid scheme. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (}). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments. () O] C 175, 24.6.2000, p. 6. () See footnote 1. (4) () The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to the Netherlands, which was given the opportunity to react; its comments were received by letter dated 27 September 2000, registered as received on 2 October 2000 (A/38015). By letters dated 10 August 2000, registered as received on 14 August 2000 (A/36761), and 16 August 2000, registered as received on 21 August 2000 (A[36855), the Dutch Government submitted a modified aid scheme on which the Commission asked for further information by letters of 22 August (D/54357) and 31 August 2000 (D/54472). The Dutch Government replied on 27 September 2000, registered as received on 2 October 2000 (A/38015). II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The SWB scheme was introduced to encourage the purchase of weighing facilities and automated test equip- ment for controlling exactly the weight and composition of manure to ensure compliance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 (Nitrate Directive) concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. The Dutch legal basis for conforming with this Directive is the ‘Meststoffenwet’ (Manure Law) of 4 December 1997, as amended on 16 March 1999. It stipulates that, from 1 January 2000 onwards, manure transport companies will be obliged to use automated test and weighing machinery; previously, they were allowed to estimate the weight and composition of manure.