No L 265/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 11. 95 COMMISSION DECISION of 1 March 1995 State Aid No C 1A/92 — Greek aid scheme in the pharmaceutical sector, financed by means of levies on pharmaceutical and other related products (Only the Greek text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (95/456/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having given notice in accordance with the above Article to interested parties to submit their comments, and having regard to those comments, Whereas : The Greek National Organization of Pharmaceuticals (NOP) is a public entity founded by Law No 1316 of 11 January 1983. NOP had the statutory task of protecting and improving public health, as well as the promotion of public interest in the sectors of production, import and movement of pharmaceutical and other related products; the develop- ment of relevant commercial/industrial undertakings and the development of technology and research in the phar- maceutical sector. Until 1991, NOP was financed through collecting directly the proceeds of (a) a levy of 15 % on the wholesale prices of all pharmaceutical products sold in the Greek market whether they originated in Greece, in another Member State or in a third country; (b) a levy of 1 % on the wholesale prices of all cosmetics sold on the Greek market irrespective of Community, Greek or third country origin ; (c) other fees and charges imposed on the circulation of pharmaceuticals and related products in the Greek market. NOP was also financed indirectly through State budget transfers, when necessary. Law No 1316/83 provided for the establishment of two parallel legal entities under the tutelage and control of NOP, namely the National Industry of Pharmaceuticals SA (NIP) in the field of production and the State Deposit of Pharmaceuticals SA (SDP), in the field of distribution of medicinal products. These were to be legal persons governed by private law. The statutory task of NIP was the production, import and sale of pharmaceutical items in the internal market, the export of these items, and obtaining any other material necessary for achieving the purposes of NIP and covering the needs of the market. The share capital of the company consisted of a single share, owned by NOP. The share capital was paid in instalments by NOP through direct tranfers from 1985 to 1989 and again in 1991. NIP also disposed of revenues from its own economic activities. The statutory task of SDP was to import, export and market pharmaceuticals. As in the case of NIP, its share capital consisted of a single share owned by NOP. The operational costs of SDP were also paid by NOP, with profits being returned to NOP. After 1991, by Law No 1759/88, 1821/1988 and especially Law No 1965/91, Law No 2001/1991 and Law No 2065/92, both the aim of NOP and the method of finan- cing it were altered. Its statutory task is now to protect and improve public health and to promote the public interest as regards pharmaceuticals and other related products ; to ensure that there are adequate supplies of guaranteed pharmaceutical products of the best quality on the Greek market ; finally to promote and develop tech- nology and research in the pharmaceutical sector. Regarding the NOP financing, the main source of revenue of this organization is a percentage of 10 % of the product of a levy of 15 % on wholesale prices of all pharmaceutical goods circulating in the Greek market and of a levy of-1 % on wholesale prices of all cosmetic products. These levies strike indiscriminately both locally produced and imported products, whether they originate from other Member States or third countries. By Law No 1965/91, both NIP and SDP were closed down.