13.6.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 146/29 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1000/2003 of 11 June 2003 deferring the final date for sowing certain arable crops in certain areas of the Community in the 2003/04 marketing year THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (3)  As aresult of the particular weather conditions this year, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1038/2001 (3), and in particular the third indent of the second paragraph of Article 9 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 lays down that, in order to qualify for area payments, producers must have sown the seed no later than 31 May preceding the relevant harvest. 2)  Inview of the weather conditions in the area, the Region of Lombardy adopted plant-health rules on 15 February 2003 prohibiting the direct sowing of maize before 15 June 2003. Consequently, farmers in the municipalities concerned will be unable to comply with the 31 May deadline for sowing. it will not be possible, in the case of certain crops in certain regions of Portugal and Greece, to comply with the final dates for sowing in these regions. (4)  In these circumstances, the deadline for sowing maize for the 2003/04 marketing year should be deferred. (5)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The final dates for sowing for the 2003/04 marketing year are fixed in the Annex for the crops and regions indicated. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply to area payments for the 2003/04 marketing year. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 11 June 2003. () OJL 160, 16.6.1999, p. 1. () OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 16. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission