11. 1. 89 Official Journal of the E_uropean. Communities No L 8/15 COMMISSION DECISION of 21 December 1988 approving the varietal conversion programme for hops submitted by the United Kingdom pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2997/87 (89/17/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2997/87 of 22 September 1987 laying down, in respect of hops, the amount of aid to producers for the 1986 harvest and providing for special measures for certain regions of production (*), and in particular Article 2 (5) thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 (5) of the abovementioned Regulation, on 17 March 1988 the United Kingdom forwarded to the Commission a varietal conversion programme for hops; whereas amendments to that programme were forwarded by the United Kingdom on 26 July 1988; : Whereas the programme as amended satisfies the objectives of the Regulation in question and contains the information required under Article 2 of  Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3889/87 laying down detailed rules. for the application of the special measures for certain regions of hops production (3 ; Whereas the special aid for varietal conversion may also be granted for areas under other varieties where the latter are present on areas essentially under bitter varieities covered by a conversion plan; Whereas the programme submitted by the United Kingdom does not provide for any financial contribution to be borne by the national budget; whereas the actual costs referred to in Article 2 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2997/87 may include fattors for assessing the net loss of income as a result of the implementation of the conversion plan ; whereas, however, only factors relating to the net loss of income incurred from the date of () OJ No L 284, 7. 10. 1987, p. 19. () OJ No L 365, 24. 12. 1987, p. 41. adoption of Regulation (EEC) No 2997/87 may enter into the calculation of the actual costs; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the —opinion of the Management Committee for Hops, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 The varietal conversion programme for hops submitted iursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2997/87 by the United ingdom on 17 March 1988, as last amended on 26 July 1988, is hereby approved. The main aspects of the programme are given in the Annex hereto. Article 2 The United Kingdom shall inform the Commission every six months of progress in the programme. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom. Done at Brussels, 21 December 1988. For the Commission Frans ANDRIESSEN Vice-President