
Article 1 
Chapter 17a of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 is replaced by the following:
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CHAPTER 17a
Article 171a 
The Member States shall establish objective criteria on the basis of which land is authorised for the crop-specific payment for cotton provided for in Article 110a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.
These criteria shall be based on one or more of the following:

((a)) the agricultural economy of those regions where cotton is a major crop;
((b)) the soil and climate in the areas in question;
((c)) the management of irrigation water;
((d)) rotation systems and cultivation methods likely to respect the environment.
Article 171aa 
The Member States shall approve the varieties registered in the “Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species” that are adapted to market needs.
Article 171ab 
Sowing the areas referred to in Article 110b(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be done by achieving a minimum plant density, to be fixed by the Member State on the basis of the soil and weather conditions and specific regional characteristics, where appropriate.
Article 171ac 
The Member States shall be authorised to establish specific rules on the agronomic practices needed to maintain and harvest the crops under normal growing conditions.
Article 171ad 

1. Before 31 December each year, Member States shall approve for the following year any inter-branch cotton-producing organisation that applies to plant cotton and which:
(a) covers a total area of at least 4 000 ha as established by the Member State and meeting the authorisation criteria laid down in Article 171a, and which includes at least one ginning undertaking;
(b) has adopted internal operating rules, in particular on membership conditions and fees, in accordance with national and Community rules and regulations.However, for 2009, Member States shall approve the inter-branch cotton-producing organisations by 28 February 2009.
2. Where it is found that an approved inter-branch organisation does not respect the criteria for approval provided for in paragraph 1, the Member State shall withdraw the approval unless the non-respect of the criteria concerned is remedied within a reasonable period of time. Where it is planned to withdraw the approval, the Member State shall notify that intention to the inter-branch organisation, together with the reasons for the withdrawal. The Member State shall allow the inter-branch organisation to submit its observations within a specified period. In case of withdrawal, the Member States shall provide for the application of appropriate sanctions.Farmers who are members of an approved inter-branch organisation whose approval is withdrawn in accordance with the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall lose their right to the increase of the aid provided for in Article 110e(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.
Article 171ae 

1. A producer shall not be a member of more than one inter-branch organisation.
2. A producer who is a member of an inter-branch organisation shall deliver his cotton to a ginner belonging to that same organisation.
3. The participation of producers in an approved inter-branch organisation must be the result of voluntary membership.
Article 171af 

1. Before January 31 of the year in question, Member States shall notify cotton growers of:
(a) the approved varieties; however, varieties approved in accordance with Article 171aa after that date must be notified to the growers before 15 March in the same year;
(b) the criteria for authorising land;
(c) the minimum cotton plant density referred to in Article 171ab;
(d) the required agronomic practices.
2. Where approval for a variety is withdrawn, the Member States shall inform the growers no later than 31 January for the purposes of the following year’s sowing season.'
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2009.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 11 November 2008.
For the Commission
Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission