The Candidate Countries concerned are currently at the first stage of the implementation of EDIS, the 'gap assessment' (as defined in a 'Road Map to EDIS for PHARE and ISPA') proposed to Candidate Countries in 2001.

(13) Whereas the circulation of feed materials in many cases occurs in bulk consignments, whether or not split up into several units; whereas such materials are generally accompanied by documents such as invoices and waybills; whereas these papers may serve as 'accompanying documents` within the meaning of Article 5 of this Directive; whereas this is permitted only if identification of (the units of) the consignment and the existence of a common reference and an accompanying document is properly guaranteed at all stages of circulation, for example by the use of reference numbers or signs;

Whereas tobacco must come under supervision as soon as it enters the premises of the first processing and market preparation undertaking ; whereas it must remain under supervision until it has reached a processing stage at which it becomes distinct from leaf tobacco ; whereas, therefore, supervision must include checks at the beginning and the end of the first processing and market preparation stages;

1. Member States shall institute a system of supervision at the stage of first processing and market preparation of tobacco, enabling a check to be made in respect of each undertaking of the quantities of leaf tobacco harvested in the Community or originating in or coming from third countries and ensuring that the tobacco coming under supervision will not he released therefrom before completion of first processing and market preparation.