19.10.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 27415 COMMISSION DECISION of 13 July 2011 concerning State aid C 3/09 (ex NN 41 A-B/03) implemented by Portugal for the collection, transportation, treatment and destruction of slaughterhouse waste (notified under document C(2011) 4888) (Only the Portuguese text is authentic) (2011/677/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 108(2) thereof, Whereas: ©) I. PROCEDURE Following a complaint, on 15 November 2002 the Commission asked the Portuguese authorities for information on the introduction of a parafiscal charge designed to finance the collection, transportation, treatment and destruction of mammalian meat and poul- trymeat  by-products,  pursuant to  Decree-Law No 197/2002 of 25 September 2002 (") (hereinafter referred to as ‘Decree-Law No 197/2002). The Portuguese authorities replied by letter of 20 January 2003. As the information provided indicated that this measure had been implemented without prior authorisation from the Commission, it was entered in the register of non- notified aid under number NN 41 A-B/03. By letters of 16 and 30 April 2003, the Commission services asked the Portuguese authorities for further information on the measure in question. The Portuguese authorities were given a period of 4 weeks in which to reply. By letters of 5 May and 6 June 2003, registered on 5 May and 10 June 2003 respectively, the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union, on behalf of the Portuguese authorities, in view of the time needed to gather this information, asked for a further period in order to provide all the information requested. By letter of 25 July 2003, the Commission services granted an extension of 4 weeks. (") Didrio da Republica, I Series A — No 222 of 25 September 2002, p. 6535. (6) (10) Since no reply was received within the 4-week period allowed in the last letter mentioned above, on 19 December 2003 the Commission services sent the Portuguese authorities an official reminder, stipulating that, should the latter fail to reply, the Commission services reserved the right to propose that the Commission send an information injunction, pursuant to Article 10(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty () (now Article 108 TFEU). By letter of 5 February 2004 registered on the same date, the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union sent the Commission the reply from the Portuguese authorities to the letters from the Commission services of 16 and 30 April 2003. By letter of 11 November 2004, the Commission services asked the Portuguese authorities for further information on the measure in question. The Portuguese authorities were given a period of 4 weeks in which to reply. By letter of 30 December 2004, registered on 5 January 2005, the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union, on behalf of the Portuguese authorities, in view of the time needed to gather this information, asked for a further period of 1 month in order to provide all the information requested. By letter of 17 January 2005, the Commission services granted an extension for the second time, as requested. Since no reply was received to their questions within the further period allowed, on 12 April 2005 the Commission services sent the Portuguese authorities another official reminder, drawing the latter’s attention once again to the fact that, should they fail to reply within the 4-week period allowed for this purpose, the Commission services reserved the right to propose that the Commission send an information injunction, pursuant to Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999. () O] L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1.