L 152/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 12.6.2002 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 997/2002 of 11 June 2002 establishing detailed rules for the implementation of the provisions relating to the allocation of a Community financial contribution for Member States in order to strengthen inspection infrastruc- tures for plant health checks on plants and plant products coming from third countries THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (') (the Direc- tive), as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/36/EC (3), and in particular Article 13(9), fifth subparagraph, thereof, Whereas: (1) Pursuant to the provisions of the Directive, a Commu- nity financial contribution may be granted to Member States to cover expenditure (up to 50 %) relating directly to improving the provision of equipment and facilities required to carry out inspections, at inspection posts other than those at the place of destination, beyond the level already achieved by complying with the minimum conditions  stipulated in implementing provisions pursuant to the fourth subparagraph of Article 13(8) of the Directive. (2) It is necessary to provide for detailed rules for the imple- mentation of the provisions relating to the allocation of a Community financial contribution for Member States for such improvement. (3)  In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (}), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules shall be financed under the Guarantee section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Financial control of these measures comes under Articles 8 and 9 of the above Regulation. (4)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 An application of a Member State for a ‘plant health import inspection post financial contribution’ shall: (a) be made in writing by the Authority referred to in Article 1(4) of the Directive; 0J L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. () OJ L 116, 3.5.2002, p. 16. 0J L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103. (b) be addressed to the Commission of the European Commu- nities, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium; (c) be submitted by 1 June, to be examined in the same year. For 2002, the submission date shall exceptionally be post- poned to 15 July 2002; (d) include evidence of the equipment and/or facilities intended to be purchased by the Member State, through an appro- priate programme to be implemented and including: (i) the location of the inspection post(s) where the equip- ment and|or facilities will be allocated; ii) a description of the inspection post, in terms of staff p p p presence, equipment list and nature of main trade of plants and plant products; (iii) the justification for the purchase and/or improvement of the equipment and|or facilities; (iv) the technical description of the equipment and|or facil- ities needed to be purchased and/or improved; (v) a detailed financial estimate on the planned purchase andfor improvement (excluding VAT and taxes) concerning the above described equipment andor facil- ities; (e) concern equipment and/or facilities such as referred to in the Annex of this Regulation, with the exception of consumable goods. Article 2 1. For each application received, the Commission shall deter- mine whether: (a) a phytosanitary justification for the proposed purchase or improvement has been demonstrated; (b) the estimated costs of the purchase or improvement are reasonable. The Member State concerned shall, on request by the Commis- sion, communicate to it any additional information it requires for its examinations.