17.1.2003 Official Journal of the European Communities L 12/31 COMMISSION DECISION of 16 January 2003 concerning guidance on a provisional reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM, ; under Directive 1999/30/EC (notified under document number C(2003) 10) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/37EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (4)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air ('), as amended by Commission Decision 2001/ 744[EC (3, and in particular Article 7(5), third subparagraph, thereof, Whereas: (1) Limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air are laid down in Directive 1999/30/EC. (2) A reference method for sampling and measurement of PM,; is currently being standardised by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). In absence of the reference method, guidance on a provisional reference method for sampling and measurement of PM, s has to be provided by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Section V of Annex IX to Direc- tive 1999/30/EC. (3)  Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management () provides that the Commission shall be assisted by the Committee referred to in Article 12 of the Directive, composed of the representatives of Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission, and that the Commis- sion shall take the utmost account of the opinion deliv- ered by the Committee. OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41. () OJ L 278, 23.10.2001, p. 35. 0J L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. dance with the opinion of the Committee instituted by Article 12(2) of Council Directive 96/62/EC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atrticle 1 The guidance on a provisional reference method for sampling and measurement of PM, ; referred to in Section V of Annex IX to Directive 1999/30/EC is provided by means of the Annex to this Decision. Atticle 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 16 January 2003. For the Commission Margot WALLSTROM Member of the Commission