8.7.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L1761 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 14 December 2004 concerning the levy on meat purchases (rendering levy) implemented in France (notified under document number C(2004) 4770) (Only the French text is authentic) (2005/474[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pur- suant to the provision cited above (') and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1)  Following a complaint, the Commission asked the French authorities on 15 April 1999 for information concerning a levy on meat purchases (hereinafter the rendering levy) to finance rendering activities on French territory. The French authorities replied by letter dated 12 May 1999. () The Commission had already initiated the infringement proceedings provided for in Article 226 of the Treaty against the rendering levy (2). A letter of formal notice had been sent to France on 29 July 1998. This was followed by a reasoned opinion on 18 September 2000. The Commis- sion decided to drop the proceedings on 26 June 2002. () OJ C 226, 21.9.2002, p. 2. () No A[97/4309. (3)  The measure was entered in the register of non-notified aid measures under number NN 17/2001. An addendum to the complaint was received in March 2001. In the mean- time, the Commission received another complaint raising the same points as the first. (4) By letter dated 10 July 2002, the Commission notified France of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty with respect to the render- ing levy. (5)  The Commission Decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (3). The Commission asked the other Member States and interested parties to submit their comments on the aid scheme. (6)  The French authorities sent their comments by letter dated 10 October 2002. The Commission received comments from third parties, which were forwarded to the French authorities by letter dated 11 February 2003 and to which the French authorities replied by letter dated 9 April 2003. The French authorities were asked for additional informa- tion by letter dated 14 July 2004, which was sent by letter dated 23 September 2004. (3) See footnote 1.