L 75/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.3.2002 COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2002/27/EC of 13 March 2002 amending Directive 98/53/EC laying down the sampling methods and the methods of analysis for the official control of the levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 85/591/EEC of 20 December 1985 concerning the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for the monitoring of food- stuffs intended for human consumption ('), and in particular Article 1 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (?), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 472[2002 (%), fixes maximum limits for aflatoxins in spices. 20 Sampling plays a crucial part in the precision of the determination of the levels of aflatoxins, which are very heterogeneously distributed in a lot. Commission Directive 98/53/EC of 16 July 1998 laying down the sampling methods of analysis and the methods of analysis for the official control of the levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (*) should be amended to include spices. (3) It is appropriate to rectify minor errors in Directive 98/53EC. (4)  The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, () O] L 372, 31.12.1985, p. 50. () O] L 77, 16.3.2001, p. 1. (}) See page 18 of this Official Journal. () HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Annex I to Directive 98/53/EC is amended as set out in the Annex of this Directive. Article 2 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 28 February 2003 at the latest. They shall forth- with inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. Article 3 This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Atrticle 4 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 13 March 2002. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission