THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 149 thereof,

Whereas the Austrian Government has requested the Commission to authorize the use of a single method of grading pig carcases on its territory and has submitted for this purpose the information required in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2967/85 before its amendment by Regulation (EC) No 3127/94; whereas the authorization of that method of grading as a transitional method applicable until 31 December 1997 is justified for the purposes of facilitating the transition from Austria's current grading system to the Community system;

Whereas no modification of the grading method may be authorized except by means of a Commission decision adopted in the light of experience gained; whereas, for this reason, the present authorization may be revoked;

Whereas Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3220/84 lays down that Member States may be authorized to provide for a presentation of pig carcases different from the standard presentation defined in the same Article where commercial practice or technical requirements warrant this;

Whereas in Austria the technical requirements relating to the use of the grading method and, consequently, commercial practice, necessitate the attachment of the flare fat, kidneys and diaphragm to the carcase; whereas this should be taken into account in adjusting the weight recorded to the weight for standard presentation;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Pigmeat,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: