L 368/96 Official Journal of the European Union 23.12.2006 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1980/2006 of 20 December 2006 laying down transitional measures amending Regulation (EC) No 2076/2002 and Decisions 2001/245/EC, 2002/928/EC and 2006/797/EC as regards the continued use of certain active substances not included in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC by reason of the accession of Bulgaria (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 42 thereof, Whereas: o ) ) () Commission  Regulation (EC) No 2076/2002 () and  Commission  Decisions  2001/245/EEC (2), 2002/928/EEC (}), and  2006/797/EC (*)  contain provisions for the non-inclusion of certain active substances in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC and for the withdrawal by Member States of all authorizations for plant protection products containing those active substances. Those acts provide for derogations permitting the continued use of some of those substances for a limited period of time while alternatives are being developed. Bulgaria applied for transitional measures for certain active substances in order to ensure that the production may be phased out gradually or that a dossier satisfying the requirements of Directive 91/414/EEC may be submitted. Information has been presented and evaluated by the Commission together with Member States’ experts which has shown a need for further use of the substances concerned. It is therefore justified to allow, under strict conditions aimed at minimising any possible risk, a longer period for the withdrawal of existing authori- sations for essential uses for which no alternatives are currently available. Regulation ~ (EC)  2076/2002  and 2001/245/EEC,  2002/928/EEC  and should therefore be amended accordingly. Decisions 2006(797 [EC O] L 319, 23.11.2002, p. 3. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1335/2005, (O] L 211, 13.8.2005, p. 6). OJ L 88, 28.3.2001, p. 19. O] L 322, 27.11.2002, p. 53. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1335/2005. OJ L 324, 23.11.2006, p. 8. 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 Regulation (EC) No 2076/2002 is amended as follows: 1. In Article 2 the following paragraph 4 is added: ‘4. By way of derogation from paragraph 3, for the authorisations of plant protection products containing substances listed in column A of Annex II, Bulgaria may maintain in force authorisations for plant protection products containing those substances for the uses listed in column C until 30 June 2009 provided that: (a) the continued use is only accepted so far as it has no harmful effects on human or animal health and no unac- ceptable influence on the environment; (b) such plant protection products remaining on the market are relabelled in order to match the restricted use conditions; (¢) all appropriate risk mitigation measures are imposed to reduce any possible risks; (d) alternatives for such uses are being seriously sought. Bulgaria shall inform the Commission about the measures taken in application of this paragraph, and in particular about the actions taken pursuant to points (a) to (d), by 31 December of each year.