Article 17
Implementation and application 1. Member States shall adopt and publish, before 5 August 2003, the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply those provisions from 1 March 2004. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2. Member States shall notify to the Commission the provisions of their national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.