9.12.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 322/11 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION DECISION of 28 November 2003 approving the TSE eradication and monitoring programmes of Member States and certain Acceding Member States for 2004 and fixing the level of the Community's financial contribution (notified under document number C(2003) 4423) (2003 /848EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (5)  After examination, the programmes submitted by the Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 32 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (), and in particular Article 24(6) thereof, Whereas: (1) Decision 90/424[EEC provides for the possibility of a financial contribution by the Community in the eradica- tion and monitoring of certain animal diseases. (2)  The Member Sates and certain Acceding Member States have submitted programmes to the Commission for the eradication and monitoring of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). (3)  Article 32 of the Act of Accession of 2003 lays down that the new Member States are to receive the same treatment as the present Member States as regards expenditure under veterinary funds. (4 However, no financial commitment under the 2004 budget for any programme concerned may be made before the accession of the concerned Acceding Member State has taken place. (") OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (O] L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1). Member States and the concerned Acceding Member States for the eradication and the monitoring of TSEs were found to comply with Council Decision 90/638/ EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases (%). (6)  Those programmes appear on the priority list of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of certain TSEs qualifying for financial contribution from the Community in 2004 and which was established by Commission Decision 2003/746/EC of 14 October 2003 on the list of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of certain TSE qualifying for a financial contribution from the Community in 2004 (). (7)  Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parlia- ment and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (), provides for annual programmes for the eradication and monitoring of TSEs in bovine, ovine and caprine animals. (8)  In the light of the importance to eradicate and monitor TSEs for the achievement of Community objectives in the field of animal and public health, it is appropriate to reimburse 100 % of the costs to be incurred by the Member States and the concerned Acceding Member States for the purchase of test kits up to a maximum amount per test kit and per TSE monitoring programme. () OJ L 347,12.12.1990, p. 27. Decision as last amended by Directive 92/65[EEC (O] L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54). () OJ L 269, 21.10.2003, p. 24. () OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commis- sion Regulation (EC) No 1915%2003 (OJ L 283, 31.10.2003, p. 29).