(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 of 29 October 2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the support schemes provided for in Titles IV and IVa of that Regulation and the use of land set aside for the production of raw materials (2), provides, inter alia, for the conditions for the area payments for flax grown for fibre.

(2)

According to Article 56(1)(b)(i) of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, the use of seed varieties listed in Annex V to that Regulation is a condition for receiving area payments for flax grown for fibre. However, in the framework for coupled payments established by Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, this eligibility condition is not justified because the amount per hectare for coupled payments for flax and for other arable crops is the same. In the decoupled system there is no provision which refers to the variety list for flax. With a view to simplification, it is therefore appropriate to repeal this condition.

(3)

Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

Since Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 applies to aid applications relating to marketing years starting from 1 January 2005, this Regulation should apply from that date.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Direct Payments,

1.

in Article 56(1)(b), point (i) is deleted;

2.

Annex V is deleted.