9.2.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 39/33 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 25 October 2000 concerning the aid scheme introduced by the region of Sardinia (Italy) to promote and add value to organic farming (notified under document number C(2000) 3153) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (2001/105/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 called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the above provision, Whereas: I. Procedure By letter of 3 March 1994, recorded as received on 17 March 1994, the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union notified, pursuant to Article 93(3) (now Article 88(3)) of the Treaty, Sardinian Regional Law No 9/94 (hereinafter ‘the Regional Laws) laying down rules to promote and add value to organic farming. The case was entered in the register under Aid No N 167/94. By letters of 25 April 1994 and 23 August 1994 the Commission asked for further information on this Law. The Italian authorities replied by letters of 14 July and 17 October 1994 and by fax of 14 February 1995. The information provided by the Italian authorities showed that the aid provided for in the Regional Law had already been introduced before that Law was noti- fied. Accordingly, the aid covered by the Regional Law, to which the number N 167/94 had been assigned, was withdrawn from the register of notified aids and entered (10) (11) in that of non-notified aids under the number NN 139/ 94. By letter of 27 July 1995, the Commission informed Italy of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid provided for in Articles 9 and 12(1) of the Regional Law. 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. The Commission received no comments from interested parties. II. Description Article 9(1) of the Regional Law provides for grants equal to 60 % of eligible expenditure to be made for land improvement operations relating to organic farming. The aid provided for in Article 9(1) also covers organic processing systems and technologies for agricultural products. Article 9(2) of the Regional Law provides for loans for the investments referred to in Article 9(1) at a reduced interest rate which may be cumulated with the aid granted under Article 9(1) up to a limit of 75 % of the eligible expenditure. The beneficiaries of the aid provided for in Article 9(1) and (2) of the Regional Law are agricultural enterprises which have been assigned the mark provided for by Article 5 of that Law. () O] C 294, 9.11.1995, p. 19.