21. 8. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 230/13 (Acts whose publicarion is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 17 July 1997 amending Decision 96/228/EC on a long-term national aid scheme to assist farmers in northern areas of Sweden (Only the Swedish text is authentic) (97/557/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 142 thereof, Whereas, in accordance with Article 143 of the Act of Accession, on 11 May 1995 Sweden notified the Commis- sion of the aid scheme planned under Article 142; Whereas the aid scheme was approved by Commission Decision 96/228/EC ('); Whereas, by letter of 14 November 1996, Sweden asked the Commission to amend certain details of Decision 96/228/EC and subsequently sent additional information to justify its request; Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (?), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 614/97 (%), provides for a ) No L 76, 26. 3. 1996, p. 29. () OJ No L 405, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1. () O] No L 94, 9. 4. 1997, p. 4. reallocation of unused reference quantities in the twelve- month period concerned, with a view to determining each producer’s contribution to the levy; whereas aid for this product in the northern regions can be paid in respect of no more than the reference quantity allocated to each producer after the reallocation of the unused quantities; Whereas, in the case of Annexes III and IV to Decision 96/228/EC, acceptable amendments have been sought by Sweden as a result of a more thorough estimate of the number of pigs produced for slaughter as provided for in Annex IV to Decision 96/228/EC; whereas this increase requires an adjustment to the total aid laid down for this product in Annex III to the Decision; Whereas a technical correction should be made to Annexes III and IV to Decision 96/228/EC as regards the unit rate of aid and total aid amount authorized for laying hens bred in subregion 3; Whereas, in view of the nature and scope of the amend- ments sought by Sweden, the amendments should become applicable from 1 January 1995; whereas, however, to ensure that milk producers do not thereby become eligible for the additional aid payments, the amendment relating to cow’s milk should become ap- plicable only in the 1996-1997 milk year,