29.11.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 324/73 COMMISSION DECISION of 28 November 2002 approving the TSE monitoring programmes of certain Member States for 2003 and fixing the level of the Community's financial contribution (notified under document number C(2002) 4592) (2002/934/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (), as last amended by Decision 2001/572[EC (3), and in particular Article 24(6) thereof, Whereas: (1) Decision 90/424[EEC provides for the possibility of a financial contribution by the Community in the eradica- tion and monitoring of certain animal diseases. (2)  Certain Member States have submitted programmes for the monitoring of transmissible spongiform encephalo- pathies (TSEs) in bovine, ovine and caprine animals for 2003. (3)  After examination, the programmes submitted by the concerned Member States for monitoring TSEs (the TSE monitoring programmes) were found to comply with Council Decision 90/638/EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases (°), as amended by Council Directive 92/65/EEC (¥). (4)  Those programmes appear on the priority list of programmes for the eradication and surveillance of animal diseases which can benefit from financial partici- pation from the Community in 2003 and which was established by Commission Decision 2002/798/EC (). (5)  Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parlia- ment 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 Regulation (EC) No 14942002 (), provides for annual programmes for monitoring trans- missible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in bovine, ovine and caprine animals. (6) In the light of the importance of the TSE monitoring programmes for the achievement of Community objec- tives in the field of animal and public health, it is appro- priate in this case to reimburse 100 % of the costs incurred by the concerned Member States for the () OJ L 224, 18.9.1990, p. 19. () OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16. () OJ L 347,12.12.1990, p. 27. () OJL 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. () OJ L 277,15.10.2002, p. 25. (9 OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. () OJ L 225, 22.8.2002, p. 3. purchase of test kits and reagents up to a maximum amount per test kit and TSE monitoring programme. (7)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/99 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (%), provides that programmes for the monitoring and eradi- cation of animal diseases are to be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/ 99 apply. (8)  The Community's financial contribution should only be granted provided that the TSE monitoring programmes are carried out efficiently and the concerned Member States supply all the necessary information within the specified time limits. (9)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atrticle 1 1. The TSE monitoring programme submitted by Belgium is hereby approved for the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003. 2. The Community's financial contribution shall not exceed EUR 4 719 000. Article 2 1. The TSE monitoring programme submitted by Denmark is hereby approved for the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003. 2. The Community's financial contribution shall not exceed EUR 2 977 000. Article 3 1. The TSE monitoring programme submitted by Germany is hereby approved for the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003. ®) OJL 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.