L 30330 Official Journal of the European Union 30.9.2004 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 22 September 2004 concerning a baseline study on the prevalence of salmonella in laying flocks of Gallus gallus (notified under document number C(2004) 3512) (2004/665[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (), and in particular Articles 19 and 20 thereof; Whereas: (1)  Pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents(?), a Community target should be established for reducing the prevalence of salmonella in populations of laying hens by 12 December 2005. () In order to set the target, comparable data on the prevalence of salmonella in the populations of laying hens in Member States should be available. Such infor- mation is not available and therefore a special study should be carried out in order to monitor the prevalence of salmonella in laying hens during an appropriate period of time in order to take into account possible seasonal variations. (3)  Article 19 of Decision 90/424/EEC laid down that the Community shall undertake, or assist the Member States in undertaking, the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education and training. (4)  The study will provide technical information necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation. In light of the importance to collect comparable data on the prevalence of salmonella in laying hens in Member States, the Community should provide financial assistance to the Member States in the implementation of the specific requirements of the study. It is appropriate (") OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 (O] L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31). (®) OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 1. to reimburse 100% of the costs incurred for the laboratory testing, up to a maximum amount per test. (5)  Pursuant to Article 3(2), of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (%), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules shall be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regu- lation (EC) No 12581999 apply. (6) A financial contribution from the Community should be granted in so far as the actions provided for are effec- tively carried out and provided that the authorities furnish all the necessary information within the time limits provided for. (7)  There is a need to clarify the rate to be used for the conversion of the payment applications submitted in national currency as defined in Article 1(d) of Council Regulation (EC) 2799/98 of 15 December 1998 estab- lishing agrimonetary arrangements for the euro (*). (8)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Objective of the study and general provisions 1. The Community shall undertake a technical study aiming at estimating across the European Union the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of laying hens (Gallus gallus) for table egg production at the end of their production period (hereafter the study). () O] L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103. () O] L 349 of 24.12.1998, p. 1. =