12.8.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 216/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1444/2002 of 24 July 2002 amending Commission Decision 2000/115/EC relating to the definitions of the characteristics, the exceptions to the definitions and the regions and districts regarding the surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 of 29 February 1988 on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings (!), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 143/2002 (3 and in particular Article 8 (1) thereof, Whereas: (1) The results of the Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 can be coherent throughout the European Community only if the terms contained in the list of characteristics are understood and applied in a uniform manner. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 143/2002 has amended the list of survey characteristics in view of the organisation of the Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in 2003, 2005, 2007. (3) New variables have been added to the list of characteristics and the development of agriculture has made it necessary to revise the definitions of various old variables. (4)  The list of exceptions to the uniform definitions due to the circumstances peculiar to certain Member States needs to be revised. (5)  The delimitation of administrative regions and districts has changed in certain Member States. Consequently the list of regions and districts for the purposes of the Community agricultural structure surveys is revised. () OJ L 56, 2.3.1988, p. 1. () OJ L 24, 26.1.2002, p. 16. (6)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics, set up by Council Decision 72/279/EEC (%), HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Annex 1 to Commission Decision 2000/115/EC (* shall be replaced by Annex I to the present regulation. This Annex contains the Community definitions to be used for Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings, together with the relevant explanations and examples. Article 2 Annex II to Decision 2000/115/EC shall be replaced by Annex II to the present regulation. This annex contains exceptions to the Community definitions due to the circumstances peculiar to certain Member States. Article 3 The regions and districts for Italy as specified in Annex IV of Decision 2000/115/EC shall be replaced according to Annex Il to the present regulation. These regions and districts shall also be applied to the results of the basic survey of 1999/2000. Article 4 This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply with respect to the Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings for 2003 onwards. () OJL 179, 7.8.1972, p. 1. () OJ L 38, 12.2.2000, p. 1.