
1. 
The competent institutions of these Member States shall continue to issue E 111 forms in accordance with the model laid down in Decision No 198 until the end of the transitional period.

However, before the end of the transitional period, these Member States may choose to shorten the transitional period. The Member States shall notify the Administrative Commission, at the latest three months before the introduction of the first European Card. The Administrative Commission will amend the relevant annexes to this Decision in order to indicate the date on which the transitional period of the Member State concerned will end.

2. 
The institutions of these Member States shall issue a temporary replacement certificate to any insured person who cannot obtain a European card.

If the competent institution is not able to issue a European Card, the mentions of field 8 and 9 of the temporary replacement form are optional. The absence of this mention shall not undermine the validity of the temporary replacement form.

3. This Decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will be applicable from 1 June 2004.

ANNEX I
Member State Transitional period until
Austria 28 February 2005
Italy 31 October 2004
Netherlands 31 December 2005
Portugal 28 February 2005
United Kingdom 31 August 2005
ANNEX II
New Member State Transitional period until
Latvia 31 July 2005
Lithuania 1 July 2005
Malta 31 December 2005
Poland 31 December 2005
Slovakia 31 December 2005
Cyprus 31 December 2005
Hungary 31 October 2005
ANNEX III
EFTA member country Transitional period until
Iceland 30 April 2005
Switzerland 31 December 2005
Liechtenstein 28 February 2005