L 249/18 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2004 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 2 July 2004 laying down a derogation to the transitional regime established by Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 for the transit of pet animals through the territory of Sweden between the Island of Bornholm and the other parts of the territory of Denmark (notified under document number C(2004) 2435) (Only the Danish and Swedish texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/557EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (2)  Those conditions are largely the same than the national conditions applying for entry into Sweden before the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, (3) A bilateral agreement existed between Sweden and Denmark establishing less restrictive requirements than those applicable for entry into Sweden for the transit Having regard to the Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the of pet animals through the territory of Sweden European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on between the Island of Bornholm (DK) in the Baltic Sea the animal health requirements applicable to the non- and the other parts of the territory of Denmark. commercial movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC ('), and in particular Article 21 thereof, Whereas: ) . . ) (4) It is appropriate to maintain this limited derogation to the transitional regime established under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003. (1)  Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 establishes for a transitional period of five years the veterinary conditions applying, inter alia, to non-commercial movements of pet dogs and cats, to the territory of Sweden. (5)  The measure provided for in this Decision is in (") OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Commission accordance with the opinion of the Standing Regulation (EC) No 592/2004 (O] L 94, 31.3.2004, p. 7). Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,