6.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 68/27 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 20 February 2004 laying down arrangements for the submission of information on plans or programmes required under Council Directive 96/62/EC in relation to limit values for certain pollutants in ambient air (notified under document number C(2004) 491) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/224[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management ('), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) Pursuant to Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, plans or programmes for attaining the limit values established by 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 (%) and by Directive 2000/69/EC of the Euro- pean Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air () must be prepared in the Member States for those zones and agglomerations where the limit values plus the margin of tolerance are exceeded. Those plans and programmes must include at least the information listed in Annex IV to Directive 96/ 62/EC. The Commission must regularly check the imple- mentation of those plans and programmes. (2)  Article 11 of Directive 96/62/EC requires Member States to submit their plans and programmes to the Commis- sion annually. (3)  While the plans and programmes would be drafted according to the specific administrative requirements in each Member State, the information submitted to the (") OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 18822003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ'L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). () OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41. Directive as amended by Commission Decision 2001/744/EC (O] L 278, 23.10.2001, p. 35). () OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12. Commission should be harmonised and structured in accordance with the detailed arrangements laid down in the present Decision. (4)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee estab- lished by Article 12 of Directive 96/62/EC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atrticle 1 When submitting the information on the plans or programmes referred to in Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, as required by Article 11(1)(a)(iii) thereof, with regard to the limit values established by Directives 1999/30/EC and 2000/69/EC, Member States shall present that information in accordance with the structure set out in the Annex to this Decision. The full plans and programmes shall be made available to the Commission on request. Atticle 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 20 February 2004. For the Commission Margot WALLSTROM Member of the Commission