L 63/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 3. 98 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 503/98 of 3 March 1998 amending for the eighth time Regulation (EC) No 913/97 adopting exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in Spain THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in pigmeat (*), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 (%), and in particular Article 20 and Article 22 second paragraph thereof, Whereas, because of the outbreak of classical swine fever in certain production regions in Spain, exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in that Member State were adopted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 913/97 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 292/98 (%; Whereas in certain areas affected recently by classical swine fever, fattening pigs of the Iberian breed are subject to veterinary and commercial restrictions adopted by the Spanish authorities; whereas these pigs are different, at a technical and economic level, from other fattenings pigs; whereas it is consequently justified to create a specific category for these pigs and to include them in the support measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 913/97; Whereas it is convenient, owing to the veterinary and commercial restrictions adopted by the Spanish authorit- ies, to increase the number of fattening pigs which can be delivered to the competent authorities, thus allowing the continuation of the exceptional measures in the weeks to come; Whereas it is necessary to specify that piglets of a weight equal to or greater than 25 kilograms can be delivered under these support measures, but that a ceiling is set for the aid for these animals at the level of aid for piglets weighing 25 kilograms; Whereas the support measures in the provinces of Segovia, Madrid and Toledo started with a certain delay, in particular owing to problems of capacity in the ren- dering plant; whereas consequently, the fattening pigs have been blocked on the holdings for several weeks; whereas it is consequently justified not to apply the ceiling for the aid for fattening pigs weighing more than () () () v OJ L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 1. OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105. OJ L 131, 23. 5. 1997, p. 14. OJ L 30, 5. 2. 1998, p. 14. 110 kilograms from these areas for the period 6 February to 15 March 1998; Whereas Articles 1 and 4 were amended several times; whereas it is therefore convenient to draft them again in order to ensure the comprehensibility of the text; Whereas the restrictions on the free movement of live pigs have existed for several weeks in the areas of Segovia, Madrid and Toledo leading to a substantial increase in the weights of the animals and, as a consequence, to an intol- erable situation at the level of animal welfare; whereas it is consequently justified to apply this Regulation as from 18 February 1998; 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 Regulation (EC) No 913/97 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 1 is replaced by the following: Article 1 1. From 6 May 1997 producers shall be eligible, on request, for aid granted by the competent Spanish authorities for delivery to them of pigs for fattening falling within CN code 0103 92 19 weighing 90 kilo- grams or more on average per batch. 2. From 18 February 1998, producers shall be eligible on request, for aid granted by the competent Spanish authorities for delivery to them of pigs for fattening of the breed “Iberian pig” or its crosses, falling within CN code 0103 92 19 weighing 150 kilo- grams or more on average per batch. 3. From 18 September 1997, producers may, on application, receive aid from the competent Spanish authorities when they deliver to them cull sows falling within CN code 01039211 with an average weight, per batch, of not less than 160 kg. 4. From 6 May 1997 producers shall be eligible, on request, for aid granted by the competent Spanish authorities for delivery to them of piglets falling within CN code 0103 91 10 weighing 10 kilograms or more on average per batch.