Article 1
1. The State aid scheme in favour of rendering undertakings, livestock farmers and slaughterhouses which France implemented between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000 to fund the public rendering service, financed by a levy on meat purchases and on products coming from other Member States, is compatible with the common market under Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty, on condition that France fulfils the undertakings set out in paragraph 4 of this Article. 2. The State aid scheme in favour of livestock farmers implemented by France between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000 to fund the public rendering service, financed by a levy on meat purchases and on products coming from other Member States, is compatible with the common market under Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty, on condition that France fulfils the undertakings set out in paragraph 4 of this Article. 3. The State aid scheme in favour of slaughterhouses implemented by France between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000 to fund the public rendering service, financed by a levy on meat purchases and on products coming from other Member States, is compatible with the common market under Article 87(3)(c) of the Treaty, on condition that France fulfils the undertakings set out in paragraph 4 of this Article. 4. France shall reimburse the persons liable for payment of the levy on meat purchases the part levied on meat coming from other Member States between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000. This shall be done in full compliance with the following conditions: — France shall notify the persons liable for payment of the levy individually, within a maximum of six months from the date of notification of this decision, of their individual right to reimbursement, — in order to submit a request for reimbursement the persons liable for payment of the levy shall be given a period that complies with national law, and in any case not less than six months, — reimbursement shall be made within a maximum period of six months from the date of submission of the request, — the amounts reimbursed shall be updated to take account of interest from the date on which they were levied up to the date of actual reimbursement. The interest shall be based on the Commission reference rate calculated by the method used for setting the reference and discount rates, — the French authorities shall accept any reasonable evidence from the parties liable for payment showing the part of the levy paid on meat coming from other Member States, — the right to reimbursement may not be made subject to other conditions, in particular that of not having passed on the levy, — where a levy payer has not yet paid the levy, the French authorities shall formally waive their right to payment of it, including any interest on arrears, — the French authorities shall send the Commission, within a maximum period of 20 months from the date of notification of this decision, a full report showing that this Article has been properly implemented. 5. This Article shall be without prejudice to rights of reimbursement of the levy on meat purchases which payers of the levy may have under other provisions of Community law.