10.2.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 41/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 273/2001 of 9 February 2001 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the specific arrangements for the supply of sheepmeat and goatmeat to the French overseas departments for 2001 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 376391 of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the French over- seas departments ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 (3, and in particular Article 4(5) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, the number of pure-bred breeding sheep and goats originating in the Community and qualifiying for aid with a view to developing production potential in the French overseas departments should be determined for each annual period of application. (2)  The aid referred to above for the supply of pure-bred breeding sheep and goats originating in the rest of the Community to the French overseas departments should be fixed. That aid must be fixed in the light, in partic- ular, of the costs of supply from the Community market and the conditions resulting from the geographical situa- tion of the French overseas departments. (3)  Special needs may arise during the course of different marketing years for the supply to the French overseas departments of pure-bred breeding sheep and goats. Therefore, the French authorities should be granted a degree of flexibility in administering the supply arrange- ments, in that they should be allowed to issue aid certi- ficates for animals intended for certain overseas depart- ments in excess of the maximum quantities available to those departments, provided that the maximum quant- ities available to the four departments of both male and female animals are respected. So as to take account of those special needs, the French authorities should notify the Commission of the cases where that facility was used for the issue of certificates. (4)  Common detailed rules for the application of the arrangements for the supply of certain agricultural prod- ucts to the French overseas departments are laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 131/92 (}), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2755/98 (¥). Additional detailed rules should be laid down in line with current () O] L 356, 24.12.1991, p. 1. () O] L 328, 23.12.2000, p. 2. () O] L 15, 22.1.1992, p. 13. (% O] L 345, 19.12.1998, p. 27. commercial practice in the sheepmeat and goatmeat sector, in particular as regards the term of validity of aid certificates and the securities ensuring operators' compli- ance with their obligations. (5)  With a view to sound administration of the supply arrangements, a timetable should be laid down for the lodging of certificate applications and for a period of reflection for their issue. (6)  This Regulation will enter into force after the expiry of the time limit for submitting licence applications in January 2001. To avoid a break in supplies to the French overseas departments, provision should be made to derogate from Article 4(1) and (3) of this Regulation and to allow, for that month alone, the submission of licence applications in the five working days following the entry into force of this Regulation and to set the time limit for the issue of such licences at 10 working days following the entry into force of this Regulation. (7)  With a view to bringing the administration of the aid more closely into line with the requirements of the French overseas departments, the aid and the quantities to which the latter may apply should be fixed annually per calendar year. (8)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 For the year 2001, the aid provided for in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 for the supply to the French overseas departments of pure-bred breeding sheep and goats originating in the Community and the number of animals in respect of which that aid is granted shall be as fixed in the Annex hereto. Article 2 Regulation (EEC) No 131/92 shall apply to the supply of pure-bred sheep and goats pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91, with the exception of Article 3(4) thereof.