19.9.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 235/23 COMMISSION DECISION of 6 September 2000 authorising the Republic of Austria to make use of the register of bovine animals to partially replace surveys of bovine livestock (notified under document number C(2000) 2467) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/554/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 93/24/EEC of 1 June 1993 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on bovine animal production ('), as last amended by Directive 97/77/EC (3, and in particular Article 1(2) and (3) thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishes a system for the identification and registra- tion of bovine animals (). (2)  Commission Decision 1999/571/EC of 28 July 1999 recognises the fully operational character of the Austrian data base for bovine animals (¥). (3)  Pursuant to Directive 93/24/EEC the Member States may, at their request, be authorised to use administrative statistical sources instead of surveys of bovine animals on condition that they satisfy the obligations arising out of the said Directive. (4)  Austria has introduced a request for authorisation pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 1(2) of Directive 93/24/EEC. (5)  This Decision is in compliance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics, set up by Council Decision 72/279/[EEC (%), () O] L 149, 21.6.1993, p. 1. () O] L 10, 16.1.1998, p. 28. () O] L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1. (% O] L 217, 17.8.1999, p. 62. () O] L 179, 7.8.1972, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Republic of Austria is authorised to replace, in part, the surveys of bovine animals provided for by Council Directive 93/24/EEC by using the register of bovine animals to obtain all the statistical data required to comply with the obligations arising out of the said Directive. This authorisation is granted up to 31 December 2003. Article 2 The basic conditions to be met by the Republic of Austria when using administrative data for statistical purposes are set out in the Annex to this Decision. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Austria. Done at Brussels, 6 September 2000. For the Commission Pedro SOLBES MIRA Member of the Commission