L 152/8 Official Journal of the European Union 20.6.2003 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1053/2003 of 19 June 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rapid tests (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies ('), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 260/2003 (%), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 23 thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 sets out a list of national reference laboratories for TSEs for the purposes of that Regulation. Greece has changed its national reference laboratory. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 also sets out a list of rapid tests approved for TSE monitoring. (3)  The company marketing one of the rapid tests approved for TSE monitoring has informed the Commission of its intention to market the test under a new trade name. (4 In its opinion of 6 and 7 March 2003, the Scientific Steering Committee recommended the inclusion of two new tests in the list of rapid tests approved for moni- toring of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The producers of both tests have provided data showing that their test may also be used for monitoring of TSE in sheep. (5)  In order to ensure that approved rapid tests maintain the same level of performance after approval a procedure should be laid down for possible modifications to the test or the test protocol. (6)  Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly. (7)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Annex X to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 is amended in accor- dance with the Annex to this Regulation. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 19 June 2003. () OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. () OJ L 37,13.2.2003, p. 7. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission