13. 6. 98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 168/29 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 May 1998 adapting Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 in view of the organisation of the Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings (notified under document number C(1998) 1346) (98/377/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 of 29 February 1988 on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2467/96 (3, and in par- ticular Article 8(1) and (2) thereof, Whereas, in accordance with Article 8(1) and (2) of Regu- lation (EEC) No 571/88, changes to the list of survey characteristics are laid down under the procedure given in Article 15 of this Regulation, i.e. by Commission De- cision following the opinion delivered by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics; Whereas, when determining the characteristics to be surveyed, there must be an endeavour to curtail as far as possible the workload of persons concerned by the survey; Whereas, in order to develop and guide the common agri- cultural policy, the list of characteristics has to be revised and adapted in view of the 1999/2000 basic survey; whereas new information needs are evolving; whereas structural statistics on a regional basis are increasingly needed for the common agricultural policy and for regi- onal policy purposes; whereas the new trends towards () OJ L 56, 2. 3. 1988, p. 1. () OJ L 335, 24. 12. 1996, p. 3. farms with more than one holder and towards agriculture based on sustainable production methods need evaluating and thus new data are required; whereas developing rural areas calls for more information on forestry and other non-farming activities on agricultural holdings; Whereas Article 8(2), of Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 states that Member States may, on their request and on the basis of appropriate documentation, be authorised by the Commission, for certain characteristics, to use random sample surveys to collect the information requested or to use information which is already available from sources other than statistical surveys; whereas certain Member States have requested this authorisation to avail them- selves of these possibilities; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 In view of the 1999/2000 Community basic survey on the structure of agricultural holdings, Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 is replaced by the Annex to the present Decision.