2004R0796 — EN — 25.03.2005 — 002.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

Amended by:





Corrected by:









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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 796/2004

of 21 april 2004

laying down detailed rules for the implementation of cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system provided for in of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers







THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001 ( 1 ), and in particular Articles 7(1), 10(3), 24(2), 34(2), 52(2), 145(b), (c), (d), (g), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (p), thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 introduced the single payment scheme as well as certain other direct payment schemes. At the same time it merged several existing direct payment schemes. Moreover, it establishes a principle according to which direct payments to a farmer who does not comply with certain conditions in the areas of public, animal and plant health, environment and animal welfare (‘cross-compliance’) shall be subject to reductions or exclusions. (2) The direct payment schemes first introduced as a result of the reform of the common agricultural policy in 1992 and further developed under the Agenda 2000 measures have been subjected to an integrated administration and control system (hereinafter referred to as ‘integrated system’). That system has proven to be an effective and efficient means for the implementation of direct payment schemes. Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 builds upon the basis of that integrated system and submits to it the management and control both of the direct payment schemes set up by it and the adherence to the cross-compliance obligations. (3) It is therefore appropriate to repeal Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 of 11 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 ( 2 ) and to base this Regulation on the principles as established by Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001. (4) For reasons of clarity, it is appropriate to provide for certain definitions. (5) Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 provides, as part of the cross-compliance conditions, for certain obligations of the Member States on the one hand and individual farmers on the other hand, as regards the maintenance of permanent pasture. It is necessary to lay down the details for the determination of the ratio of permanent pasture and agricultural land that has to be maintained and to provide for the individual obligations at the level of farmers to be respected where it is established that that proportion is decreasing to the detriment of land under permanent pasture. (6) For the sake of effective control and to prevent the submission of multiple aid applications to different Paying Agencies within one Member State, the Member States should provide for a single system to record the identity of farmers submitting aid applications subject to the integrated system. (7) Detailed rules are needed with regard to the system for the identification of agricultural parcels to be operated by the Member States in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. According to that provision use has to be made of computerised geographic information system techniques (GIS). It is necessary to clarify at which level the system should operate and the level of details of information that has to be available in the GIS. (8) Moreover, the introduction of an area payment for nuts in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2203 leads to the need for the introduction of a new layer of information in the GIS. However, it is appropriate to release those Member States from this obligation where the maximum guaranteed area is 1 500 ha or less and to provide for a higher control rate for on-the-spot checks instead. (9) In order to ensure a proper implementation of the single payment scheme as provided for in Title III of Regulation No 1782/2003, the Member States should establish an identification and registration system according to which the payment entitlements have to be traceable and which allows, inter alia, to cross-check areas declared for the purposes of the single payment scheme with the payment entitlements available to each farmer and between the different payment entitlements as such. (10) Monitoring the adherence to the different cross-compliance obligations requires the setting-up of a control system and of appropriate sanctions. For this purpose, different authorities within the Member States need to communicate information on aid applications, control-samples, results of on-the-spot checks etc. Provision should be made for the basic elements of such a system.. (11) In order to contribute to the protection of the financial interest of the Community it should be foreseen that payments under Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 may only be made once the checks with regard to the eligibility criteria have been finalised. (12) Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 leaves a choice for the Member States with regard to the application of certain of the aid schemes provided for therein. This Regulation, therefore, has to make provisions for the administration and control needs in view of any possible choice that might be taken. These provisions to be established in this Regulation may, therefore, only apply to the extent as the Member States have taken such choices. (13) For the sake of effective controls, any kind of area use and of the aid schemes concerned should be declared at the same time. Provision should, therefore, be made for submission of a single aid application comprising any applications for aid which are in some way related to area. (14) A single application form should, moreover, even be submitted by farmers who do not apply for any of the aids subjected to the single application if they have agricultural area at their disposal. (15) In accordance with Article 34(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States may not fix a later date than 15 May of a given year for the submission of applications for aid under the Single Payment scheme. All area-related aid applications being subjected to the single application, it is therefore appropriate to apply this rule also with regard to all other area-related aid applications. Due to the particular climatic conditions in Finland and Sweden, these Member States should, on the basis of the second subparagraph of that provision, be allowed to set a later date which should not be later than 15 June. Moreover, case-to-case derogations should be envisaged on that same legal basis should climatic conditions in a given year in the future so require. (16) In the single application, the farmer should declare not only the area he is using for agricultural purposes but also his payment entitlements. Moreover, any specific information relating to production of hemp, durum wheat, rice, nuts, energy crops, starch potato and seeds should be requested together with the single application. (17) With a view to simplifying the application procedures and in accordance with Article 22(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, provision should, in this context, be made for Member States to provide the farmer as far as possible with pre-printed information. (18) For the sake of effective monitoring, each Member State should, furthermore, determine the minimum size of agricultural parcels that may be subject to an aid application. (19) It should, furthermore, be provided that areas are declared in the single application form for which no aid is being requested. Depending on the kind of use, it may be important to have exact information which is why certain uses should be declared separately whilst other uses may be declared under one heading. However, in case where Member States already receive that kind of information derogation form this rule should be allowed. (20) To allow as much flexibility as possible with regard to farmers planning concerning the use of area, they should be allowed to amend their single application until such dates where sowing would normally take place, provided that all the particular requirements under the different aid schemes are respected and that the competent authority has not yet informed the farmer of errors contained in the single application, nor notified an on-the-spot check which reveals errors, in relation to the part affected by the amendment. Following the amendment, the possibility must be given to adjust the corresponding supporting documents or contracts to be submitted. (21) In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the various livestock aid schemes common provisions should be made concerning the details to be included in livestock aid applications. (22) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 ( 3 ) requires keepers of bovine animals to communicate data concerning these animals to a computerised database. In accordance with Article 138 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, premiums under the bovine aid schemes may only be paid for animals that are properly identified and registered in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. The computerised database has also gained far-reaching importance as far as the management of the aid schemes is concerned. Farmers submitting applications under the aid schemes concerned should therefore be given access to the relevant information in due time. (23) The Member States should be authorised to make use of the information contained in the computerised database with a view to introducing simplified application procedures provided that the computerised database is reliable. Different options should be provided for, allowing Member States to make use of the information contained in the computerised database for bovine animals for the purpose of the submission and the management of aid applications. However, where such options foresee that the farmer does not have to identify individually the bovine animals with regard to which he claims the premiums it should be made clear that any potentially eligible animal with regard to which irregularities are detected concerning the compliance with the identification and registration system could, for the purpose of applying sanctions, count as an animal claimed for aid. (24) The details with regard to the submission and the substance of aid applications for the dairy premium and the related additional payments have to be established. (25) The general framework for the introduction of simplified procedures in the context of communications between the farmer and the Member States authorities should be set up. That framework should, in particular, provide for the possibility to make use of electronic means. It has however to be guaranteed that, in particular, the data thus proceeded is fully reliable and that such procedures are operated without any discrimination between farmers. (26) Where aid applications contain obvious errors they should be adjustable at any time. (27) Respect for the time limits for the submission of aid applications, for the amendment of area aid applications and for any supporting documents, contracts or declarations is indispensable to enable the national administrations to programme and, subsequently, carry out effective checks on the correctness of the aid applications. Provision should, therefore, be made regarding the time limits within which late submissions are acceptable. Moreover, a reduction should be applied to encourage farmers to respect the time limits. (28) Farmers should be entitled to withdraw their aid applications or parts thereof at any time provided that the competent authority has not yet informed the farmer of any errors contained in the aid application nor notified an on-the-spot check which reveals errors in relation to the part affected by the withdrawal. (29) Compliance with the provisions on the aid schemes managed under the integrated system should be effectively monitored. To this end, and to have a harmonised level of monitoring in all Member States, it is necessary to set out in detail the criteria and technical procedures for carrying out administrative and on-the-spot checks in respect both of the eligibility criteria established for the aid schemes and the cross compliance obligations. Moreover, as regards checks on the compliance with eligibility criteria, on-the-spot checks should, as a general rule, be unannounced. Where appropriate, the Member States should undertake to combine the various controls under this Regulation. (30) The minimum number of farmers to be checked on the spot under the various aid schemes should be determined. In the case where Member States opt for the application of the various livestock aid schemes, an integrated holding-based approach should be foreseen in relation to farmers applying for aids under those schemes. (31) The determination of significant irregularities should require an increase in the level of the on-the-spot checks during the current and the following year to reach an acceptable level of assurance of the correctness of the aid applications concerned. (32) The sample of the minimum rate of on-the-spot checks should be drawn partly on the basis of a risk analysis and partly at random. The main factors to be taken into consideration for the risk analysis should be specified. (33) On-the-spot checks of farmers submitting aid applications do not necessarily have to be carried out on each individual animal or agricultural parcel. Checks on a sample basis may, in certain cases, be carried out. However, where this is allowed the sample should be extended to a degree that guarantees a reliable and representative level of assurance. In some cases the sample may have to be extended to a full control. The Member States should establish the criteria for the selection of the sample to be checked. (34) In order for the on-the-spot check to be effective it is important for the staff carrying out the checks to be informed of the reason for the selection for the on-the-spot check. The Member States should keep records of such information. (35) Moreover, to enable the national authorities as well as any competent Community authority to follow up on-the-spot checks carried out, the details of checks should be recorded in a control report. The farmer or a representative should be given the opportunity to sign the report. However, in the case of checks by means of remote-sensing the Member States should be allowed to provide for this right only in cases where the check reveals irregularities. Irrespective of the kind of on-the-spot check carried out, the farmer should receive a copy of the report if irregularities are found. (36) On-the-spot checks of areas, as a general rule, consist of two parts, the first of which relates to verifications and measurements of declared agricultural parcels on the basis of graphic material, aerial photography and so forth. The second part consists of a physical inspection of the parcels to verify the actual size of the agricultural parcels declared and, depending on the aid scheme in question, the declared crop and its quality. Where necessary, measurements should be carried out. The physical inspection in the field may be carried out on the basis of a sample. (37) Detailed rules regarding the determination of areas and the measurement methods to be used should be laid down. Where aid is paid for the production of certain crops, experience has shown that, in relation to the determination of the area of agricultural parcels eligible for area payments, it is necessary to define the acceptable width of certain features of the fields, in particular hedges, ditches and walls. In view of specific environmental needs, it is appropriate to provide some flexibility within the limits taken into account when the regional yields were fixed. (38) With regard to areas declared for the purpose of receiving aid under the Single Payment scheme, a differentiated approach should, however, be taken given the fact that such payments are no more connected to an obligation to produce. (39) Given the particularities of the aid scheme for seed in accordance with Article 99 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, special control provisions should be established. (40) The conditions for the use of remote sensing for on-the-spot checks should be laid down and provision should be made for physical checks to be carried out in cases where photo-interpretation does not lead to clear results. (41) Article 52 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 provides for particular controls on the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in the case where a farmer grows hemp on parcels declared for the purposes of the Single Payment scheme. The details concerning such controls need to be established. (42) In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the various livestock aid schemes, where aid is being applied for under those aid schemes, the timing and the minimum content of on-the-spot checks should be specified. In order to check effectively the correctness of declarations in aid applications and notifications to the computerised database for bovine animals it is essential to carry out a major part of such on-the-spot checks whilst animals still have to be kept on farm under the retention obligation. (43) In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the various aid schemes for bovine animals, the proper identification and registration of bovine animals being an eligibility condition pursuant to Article 138 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, it should be ensured that Community aid is granted only for bovines properly identified and registered. Such checks should also be carried out in respect of bovine animals not yet claimed but which could be subject to an aid application in the future because such animals, due to the set-up of several of the bovine aid schemes, are, in many cases, only claimed for aid after they have already left the holding. (44) In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the slaughter premium, special provision should be made for checks to be carried out in slaughterhouses in order to check that animals claimed for aid are eligible and that the information contained in the computerised database is correct. The Member States should be authorised to apply two different bases for selecting slaughterhouses for such checks. (45) In that case, as far as the slaughter premium granted after export of bovine animals is concerned, special provisions are necessary along with Community control provisions relating to export in general because of the differences in the control purposes. (46) The control provisions foreseen in relation to the livestock aid should also, where appropriate, apply as regards additional payments pursuant to Article 133 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. (47) Special control provisions have been established on the basis of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1082/2003 of 23 June 2003 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum level of controls to be carried out in the framework of the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals ( 4 ). Where such checks under that Regulation are carried out, the results should be contained in the control report for the purposes of the integrated system. (48) With regard to aid applications for the dairy premium and the related additional payment, the main eligibility criteria are the amount of milk that may be produced within the reference quantity available to the farmer and whether the farmer is actually a producer of milk. The reference quantity is already known to the competent authorities of the Member States. The main condition to be checked on-the-spot is, therefore, whether the farmer is a producer of milk. Such checks may be carried out in particular on the basis of the farmers accounting or other registers. (49) Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 introduces cross compliance obligations for farmers receiving aid-payments under all direct payment schemes listed in Annex I to that Regulation. It provides for a system of reductions and exclusions where such obligations are not adhered to. The details for that system should be established. (50) The details concerning the question which authorities in the Member States carry out controls on cross compliance obligations should be established. (51) In certain cases it might be useful for the Member States to carry out administrative checks on cross compliance obligations. However, that control-tool should not be made compulsory on the Member States whilst it is useful to envisage its use on a discretionary basis. (52) The minimum control-rate for the respect of the cross compliance obligations has to be established. That control-rate should be fixed at 1 % of farmers falling under the area of competence of each control authority to be selected on the basis of an appropriate risk analysis. The sample should either be drawn on the basis of the samples of farmers that are selected for an on-the-spot check as regards eligibility criteria, or from the overall population of farmers submitting aid applications for direct payments. In the latter case certain sub-options should be allowed. (53) As a general rule, taking into account the different natures of the cross compliance obligations, on-the-spot checks should focus on all obligations the compliance with which may be checked at the time of that visit. In addition, as regards requirements and standards for which infringements could not be clearly established at the time of the visit, the controller should identify cases to be submitted for further checks if necessary. (54) Rules for the setting-up of detailed and specific control reports have to be established. The specialised controllers in the field should indicate any findings and also the degree of seriousness of such findings in order to enable the Paying Agency to fix the related reductions or, as the case may be, to decide on exclusions from receiving direct payments. (55) To protect the Community's financial interests effectively adequate measures should be adopted to combat irregularities and fraud. Separate provisions should be made in cases of irregularities found with regard to eligibility criteria for the different aid schemes concerned. (56) The system of reductions and exclusions envisaged in Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 with regard to cross compliance obligations however targets at a different aim, namely to set an incentive for farmers to respect the, already existing, legislation in the different fields of cross compliance. (57) Reductions and exclusions should be established having regard to the principle of proportionality and, in the case of eligibility criteria, the special problems linked to cases of force majeure as well as exceptional and natural circumstances. In the case of cross compliance obligations reductions and exclusions may only be applied where the farmer acted negligently or intentionally. Reductions and exclusions should be graded according to the gravity of the irregularity committed and should go as far as the total exclusion from one or several aid schemes for a specified period. They should, with regard to the eligibility criteria, take into account the particularities of the various aid schemes. (58) In relation to area aid applications, irregularities normally affect parts of areas. Overdeclarations in respect of one parcel may, therefore, be off-set against underdeclarations of other parcels of the same crop-group. Within a certain margin of tolerance it should be foreseen that aid applications are only adjusted to the area actually determined and reductions only start to apply once this margin has been exceeded. (59) It is therefore necessary to define the areas falling within the same crop-group. Areas declared for the purposes of the Single Payment scheme should, in principle, fall within the same crop-group. However, special rules need to be established in view of determining which of the related payment entitlements have been activated in case that a discrepancy is established between the area declared and the area determined. Moreover, in accordance with Article 54(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, set-aside entitlements have to be activated before any other entitlements. Provisions have to be made in this context with regard to two situations. Firstly, area declared as being set-aside for the purpose of activating set-aside entitlements and being found not to be set-aside in reality, has to be deducted from the overall area declared for the purpose of the Single Payment scheme as area not determined. Secondly, the same should be the case, on a fictional basis, in respect of the area corresponding to set-aside entitlements which are not being activated if, at the same time, other entitlements are being activated along with the corresponding area. (60) Special provisions are necessary to take into account the particularities of aid applications under the aid schemes for starch potato and seed. In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the various livestock aid schemes, where farmers apply for livestock aid and declare forage area for that purpose, and where an overdeclaration of such areas does not lead to a higher payment for livestock, no penalties should be foreseen. (61) As far as livestock aid applications are concerned, irregularities lead to the ineligibility of the animal concerned. Reductions should be foreseen as from the first animal found with irregularities but, irrespective of the level of the reduction, there should be a less harsh sanction where three animals or less are found with irregularities. In all other cases the severity of the sanction should depend on the percentage of animals found with irregularities. (62) Farmers should be allowed to replace the bovine and ovine/caprine animals within the limits allowed under the relevant sectoral rules. Where, due to natural circumstances, a farmer is unable to fulfil the retention obligations under the sectoral rules, reductions and exclusions should not be applied. (63) In the case where a Member State opts for the application of the slaughter premium, due to the importance of slaughterhouses for the proper functioning of some of the bovine aid schemes, provision should also be made for cases where slaughterhouses, gross negligently or intentionally, issue false certificates or declarations. (64) As far as irregularities are concerned as regards the additional payments provided for in Article 133 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States should provide for sanctions which should be equivalent to those provided for in relation to the area and livestock aid schemes unless this is inappropriate. In this latter case the Member States should provide for suitable equivalent sanctions. (65) Reductions and sanctions should be established as regards dairy premium and additional payments in case a farmer who applies for aid is not complying with its obligation of producing milk. (66) With regard to cross compliance obligations, apart from grading reductions or exclusions in view of the principle of proportionality, it should be provided that as of a certain moment repeated infringements of the same cross compliance obligation should, after a prior warning to the farmer, be treated as an intentional non-compliance. (67) Reductions and exclusions with regard to eligibility criteria should, as a general rule, not apply where the farmer submitted factually correct information or where he can show otherwise that he is not at fault. (68) Farmers who give notice to the competent national authorities at any time of incorrect aid applications should not be subject to any reductions or exclusions irrespective of the reason of the incorrectness, provided that the farmer has not been informed of the competent authority's intention to carry out an on-the-spot check and the authority has not already informed the farmer of any irregularity in the application. The same should apply in relation to incorrect data contained in the computerised database both in respect of claimed bovine animals for which such irregularities not only constitutes a non-respect of a cross compliance obligation but also a breach of an eligibility-criterion, and in respect of unclaimed bovine animals where such irregularities are relevant only under the cross compliance obligations. (69) The management of small amounts is a burdensome task for the competent authorities of the Member States. It is therefore appropriate to authorise the Member States not to pay amounts of aid that are below a certain minimum limit and not to request reimbursement of incorrectly paid amounts when the sums involved are minimal. (70) Specific and detailed provisions have to be laid down in order to ensure the equitable application of various reductions to be applied in respect of one or several aid applications by the same farmer. The reductions and exclusions provided for under this Regulation should apply without prejudice to additional sanctions under any other provisions of Community or national law. (71) Where, as a consequence of force majeure or exceptional circumstances, a farmer is not able to fulfil the obligations provided for under the sectoral rules, he should not lose his right to the aid payment. It should be specified which cases may, in particular, be recognized by the competent authorities as cases of exceptional circumstances. (72) In order to ensure uniform application of the principle of good faith throughout the Community, where amounts unduly paid are recovered, the conditions under which that principle may be invoked should be laid down without prejudice to the treatment of the expenditure concerned in the context of the clearance of accounts under Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy ( 5 ). (73) Rules should be established laying down the consequences of transfers of entire holdings which are under certain obligations in accordance with the direct payment schemes subject to the integrated system. (74) As a general rule the Member States should take any further measures necessary to ensure a proper functioning of this Regulation. The Member States should give each other mutual assistance where necessary. (75) The Commission should, where appropriate, be informed of any measures taken by the Member States to introduce changes to their implementation of the integrated system. In order to enable the Commission to monitor the integrated system effectively, the Member States should send it certain annual control statistics. The Member States should, moreover, inform the Commission of any measures they are taking with regard to the maintenance of land under permanent pasture. (76) Rules have to be established with regard to the basis for the calculation of the reductions to be applied under modulation in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the subsequent allocation key of the financial means thus becoming available, as well as the calculation of the additional amount of aid provided for in Article 12 of that Regulation in order to fix the rules to determine whether the threshold of EUR 5 000 referred to in that Article has been reached. (77) The present Regulation should start to apply as of 1 January 2005. As of that same date, Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 should be repealed. However, with regard to aid applications relating to marketing years or premium periods which start before 1 January 2005, that Regulation should continue to apply. Special provisions are necessary to ensure that reductions to be applied as a consequence of the rules established in Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 would not be emptied by the transfer to this new regime. (78) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Direct Payments, Whereas: HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:







PART I

SCOPE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Scope

This Regulation lays down the detailed rules for the implementation of cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system (hereinafter ‘the integrated system’) established by Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. It shall be without prejudice to specific provisions laid down in the Regulations covering the individual aid schemes.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

▼M1

(1) ‘Arable land’: shall mean land cultivated for crop production and land under set-aside, or maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, irrespective of whether or not that land is under greenhouses or under fixed or mobile cover;

(2) ‘Permanent pasture’: shall mean land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown) and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the holding for five years or longer, excluding land under set-aside schemes pursuant to Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 ( 6 ), land under set aside schemes pursuant to Article 54(2) and Article 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, areas set aside in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 ( 7 ) and areas set aside in accordance with Articles 22, 23 and 24 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 ( 8 );

▼M1

(2a) ‘Grasses or other herbaceous forage’: shall mean all herbaceous plants traditionally found in natural pastures or normally included in mixtures of seeds for pastures or meadows in the Member State (whether or not used for grazing animals). Member States may include crops listed in Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

▼B

(3) ‘System for the identification and registration of bovine animals’: shall mean the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals established by Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 9 );

(4) ‘Ear tag’: shall mean the ear tag to identify animals individually referred to in Articles 3(a) and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;

(5) ‘Computerised database for bovine animals’: shall mean the computerised database referred to in Articles 3(b) and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;

(6) ‘Animal passport’: shall mean the animal passport referred to in Articles 3(c) and 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;

(7) ‘Register’: shall mean the register kept by the keepers of animals in accordance with Article 4 of Council Directive 92/102/EEC ( 10 ), with Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 ( 11 ), or Articles 3(d) and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 respectively;

(8) ‘Elements of the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals’: shall mean the elements referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;

(9) ‘Identification code’: shall mean the identification code referred to in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;

(10) ‘Irregularities’: shall mean any non-respect of the relevant rules for the granting of the aid in question;

▼M1

(11) ‘Single application’: shall mean the application for direct payments in respect of the single payment scheme and other area-related aid schemes with the exception of an application for hops payment by a recognised producer group pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 68a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(12) ‘Area-related aid schemes’: shall mean the single payment scheme, the hops payment to recognised producer groups referred to in the second paragraph of Article 68a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and all aid schemes established under Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, except those established under Chapters 7, 11 and 12 of that Title;

▼B

(13) ‘Livestock aid application’: shall mean the applications for the payment of aid under the sheep and goat premiums scheme and the beef and veal payments scheme provided for in Chapters 11 and 12 of Title IV, respectively, of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(14) ‘Dairy premium aid application’: shall mean the applications for the payment of aids under the dairy premium and additional payment scheme provided for in Chapter 7 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(15) ‘Use’: shall mean the use of area in terms of the type of crop or ground cover or the absence of a crop;

(16) ‘Bovine aid schemes’: shall mean the aid schemes referred to in Article 121 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(17) ‘Ovine/caprine aid scheme’: shall mean the aid scheme referred to in Article 111 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(18) ‘Claimed bovine animals’: shall mean bovine animals subject to a livestock aid application under the bovine aid schemes;

(19) ‘Unclaimed bovine animals’: shall mean bovine animals not yet subject to a livestock aid application but potentially eligible for aid under the bovine aid schemes;

(20) ‘Retention period’: shall mean the period during which an animal for which aid has been claimed has to be kept on the holding, as provided for in the following provisions: (a) Articles 5 and 9 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999 of 28 October 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal as regards premium schemes ( 12 ), in relation to the special premium for male bovines, (b) Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999, in relation to the suckler cow premium, (c) Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999, in relation to the slaughter premium, (d) Article 2(3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2550/2001 of 21 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2529/2001 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat as regards premium schemes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 ( 13 ) in relation to aids paid for ovines and caprines;

(21) ‘Animal keeper’: shall mean any natural or legal person responsible for animals whether on a permanent or on a temporary basis, including during transportation or at a market;

(22) ‘Area determined’: shall mean the area for which all conditions laid down in the rules for granting the aid have been met; in the case of the single payment scheme, the area declared may be deemed as being determined only if it is actually being accompanied by a corresponding number of payment entitlements;

(23) ‘Animal determined’: shall mean an animal for which all conditions laid down in the rules for granting the aid have been met;

(24) ‘Premium period’: shall mean the period to which aid applications refer irrespective of the moment of their submission;

(25) ‘Geographical Information System’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘GIS’): shall mean the computerised geographical information system techniques referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(26) ‘Reference parcel’: shall mean a geographically delimited area retaining a unique identification as registered in the GIS in the Member State’s identification system referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(27) ‘Graphical material’: shall mean maps or other documents used to communicate the contents of the GIS between the aid applicants and the Member states;

(28) ‘National geodetic system’: shall mean a coordinate reference system which permits standardised measurement and unique identification of agricultural parcels throughout the Member State concerned; where different coordinate systems are used, they shall be compatible within each Member State;

(29) ‘Paying Agency’: shall mean the authorities and bodies referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 ( 14 );

(30) ‘Cross-compliance’: shall mean the statutory management requirements and the good agricultural and environmental conditions in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(31) ‘Areas of cross-compliance’: shall mean the different areas of statutory management requirements within the meaning of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and the good agricultural and environmental condition as stipulated in Annex IV to that Regulation;

(32) ‘Act’: shall mean each of the individual Directives and Regulations listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003; however, the Directive and the Regulations listed in points 6, 7, 8 and 8a of Annex III to that Regulation shall establish one single act;

(33) ‘Standard’: shall mean the standards as defined by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 and Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(34) ‘Requirement’: where this term is used in the context of cross-compliance, it shall mean each individual statutory management requirement resulting from any of the Articles referred to in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 within a given act, differing in substance from any other requirements of the same act;

(35) ‘Non-compliance’: shall mean any non-compliance with the requirements, and standards; the non-compliance with the obligations set out in Article 4 of this Regulation shall equally constitute a case of non-compliance;

▼M1

(36) ‘Specialised control bodies’: shall mean the national competent control authorities, as referred to in Article 42 of this Regulation, responsible, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, for ensuring compliance with the statutory management requirements and good agricultural and environmental condition;

▼B

(37) ‘Individual reference quantity determined’: shall mean the individual reference quantities to which the farmer is entitled.

▼M1

For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘new Member States’ shall mean the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

▼B

Article 3

Maintenance of land under permanent pasture at Member State level

1. ►C1 Without prejudice to the exceptions provided for in the third subparagraph of Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States shall, pursuant to the first paragraph thereof, ensure the maintenance of the ratio of the land under permanent pasture in relation to the total agricultural area as defined in Article 2(a) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 ( 15 ). That obligation shall apply at national or regional level. ◄

However, where the amount of land under permanent pasture in absolute terms established in accordance with ►C1 paragraph 4(a) ◄ is maintained, the obligation set out in the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be considered as being complied with.

▼M1

2. For the purpose of applying the second subparagraph of Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States shall ensure that the ratio referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not decrease to the detriment of land under permanent pasture by more than 10 % relatively to the ratio for the relevant reference year referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) of that Regulation (hereinafter referred to as the reference ratio).

▼B

3. The ratio referred to in paragraph 1 shall be established each year on the basis of the areas declared by the farmers for the year concerned.

4. ►M1 For the Member States, other than the new Member States, the reference ratio shall be established as follows: ◄

(a) the land under permanent pasture shall be the land under permanent pasture declared by the farmers in 2003, plus the land under permanent pasture declared in 2005 in accordance with Article 14 (1) of this Regulation and that has not been declared for any use other than grassland in 2003, unless the farmer can demonstrate that such land was not under permanent pasture in 2003. Areas declared in 2005 as land under permanent pasture and that in 2003 were eligible for the arable crops area payment in accordance with Article 1(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops ( 16 ) shall be discounted. Land that was under permanent pasture in 2003 and that has been afforested since 2003 or yet to be afforested in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 5 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be discounted.

(b) the total agricultural area shall be the total agricultural area declared by the farmers in 2005.

▼M1

5. For the new Member States that have not applied in respect of the year 2004 the single area payment scheme referred to in Article 143b of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the reference ratio shall be established as follows:

(a) the land under permanent pasture shall be the land under permanent pasture declared by the farmers in 2004, plus the land under permanent pasture declared in 2005 in accordance with Article 14(1) of this Regulation and that has not been declared for any use other than grassland in 2004, unless the farmer can demonstrate that such land was not under permanent pasture in 2004. Areas declared in 2005 as land under permanent pasture and that in 2004 were eligible for the arable crops area payment in accordance with Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 shall be discounted. Land yet to be afforested in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be discounted.

(b) the total agricultural area shall be the total agricultural area declared by the farmers in 2005.

6. For the new Member States that have applied in respect of the year 2004 the single area payment scheme referred to in Article 143b of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the reference ratio shall be established as follows:

(a) the land under permanent pasture shall be the land under permanent pasture declared by the farmers in 2005 in accordance with Article 14(1) of this Regulation;

(b) the total agricultural area shall be the total agricultural area declared by the farmers in 2005.

▼B

Article 4

Maintenance of land under permanent pasture at individual level

1. Where it is established that the ratio referred to in Article 3(1) of this Regulation is decreasing the Member State concerned shall, at national or regional level, provide for the obligation of farmers applying for aid under any of the direct payment schemes listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 not to convert land under permanent pasture without prior authorisation.

▼M1

If the authorisation referred to in the first subparagraph is subject to the condition that an area of land shall be established as permanent pasture, such land shall, as of the first day of conversion, be considered as permanent pasture by way of derogation from the definition laid down in Article 2(2). Those areas shall be used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage for the five consecutive years following the date of conversion.

▼B

2. Where it is established that the obligation referred to in Article 3(2) of this Regulation cannot be ensured, the Member State concerned shall, further to the measures to be taken in accordance with paragraph 1, provide, at national or regional level, for the obligation of farmers applying for aid under any of the direct payment schemes listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 to re-convert land into land under permanent pasture for those farmers who have land at their disposal which was converted from land under permanent pasture into land for other uses.

▼M1

This obligation shall, in 2005, apply with regard to land converted into land for other uses since the relevant date under the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. From 1 January 2006, that obligation shall apply with regard to land thus converted since the date of the start of the 24-month period preceding the last date at which the single applications had to be submitted at the latest in accordance with Article 11(2) of this Regulation in the Member State concerned.

▼B

In such case, farmers shall re-convert a percentage of that area into land under permanent pasture or establish such an amount of area as land under permanent pasture. That percentage shall be calculated on the basis of the amount of area thus converted by the farmer and the amount of area needed to re-establish the balance.

However, where such land was subject to a transfer after it had been converted into land for other uses, this obligation shall only apply if the transfer took place after the entry into force of this Regulation.

By way of derogation from Article 2, point 2, areas re-converted or established as land under permanent pasture shall, as of the first day of the re-conversion or establishment be considered as ‘permanent pasture’. ►M1 Those areas shall be used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage for the five consecutive years following the date of their conversion. ◄

3. However, the obligation for farmers set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply where farmers created land under permanent pasture in the framework of programmes in accordance with Council Regulations (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside ( 17 ) and (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations ( 18 ) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1017/94 of 26 April 1994 concerning the conversion of land currently under arable crops to extensive livestock farming in Portugal ( 19 ).







PART II

THE INTEGRATED ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM







TITLE I

GENERAL

Article 5

Identification of farmers

Without prejudice to Article 22(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single system to record the identity of each farmer provided for by Article 18(1)(f) of that Regulation shall guarantee a unique identification with regard to all aid applications submitted by the same farmer.

Article 6

Identification of agricultural parcels

1. The identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall operate at reference parcel level such as cadastral parcel, or production block which shall ensure unique identification of each reference parcel.

Member States shall, moreover, ensure that agricultural parcels are reliably identified and shall in particular require the single application to be furnished with particulars or accompanied by documents specified by the competent authority that enable each agricultural parcel to be located and measured. The GIS shall operate on the basis of a national geodetic system.

2. The Member State shall ensure that with regard to at least 75 % of the reference parcels being subject to an aid application, at least 90 % of the respective area is eligible pursuant to the single payment scheme. The assessment shall be made on an annual basis using appropriate statistical methods.

3. In respect of the area payment for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the Member States for which the national guaranteed area fixed in Article 84(3) of that Regulation is more than 1 500 ha, shall introduce, as from 1 January 2006, an additional layer of GIS information relating to the number of trees per parcel, their type, their positioning and the calculation of the orchard’s surface.

Article 7

Identification and registration of payment entitlements

1. The system for the identification and registration of payment entitlements provided for in Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be an electronic register at Member State level and shall, in particular with regard to the cross-checks provided for in Article 24 of this Regulation, ensure effective traceability of the payment entitlements, in particular as regards the following elements:

(a) holder;

(b) value;

(c) date of establishment;

(d) date of last activation;

(e) origin, in particular with regard to its attribution, original or national reserve, purchase, lease, inheritance;

(f) kind of entitlement, in particular set-aside entitlements, entitlements subject to special conditions in accordance with Article 48 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, and entitlements with authorisation in accordance with Article 60 of that Regulation;

(g) where applicable, regional restrictions.

2. Member States in which there is more than one Paying Agency, may decide to operate the electronic register at Paying Agency level. In that case, the Member State concerned shall ensure that the different registers are compatible with each other.

Article 8

General principles in respect of agricultural parcels

1. A parcel that contains trees shall be considered an agricultural parcel for the purposes of the area-related aid schemes provided that agricultural activities referred to in Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or, where applicable, the production envisaged can be carried out in a similar way as on parcels without trees in the same area.

2. With regard to forage area:

(a) where a forage area is used in common, the competent authorities shall notionally allocate it between the individual farmers in proportion to their use or right of use of it;

(b) for the purposes of applying Article 131 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, each forage area must be available for rearing animals for a minimum period of seven months, starting on a date to be determined by the Member State, which shall be between 1 January and 31 March.

(c) for the purposes of applying Article 131 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, where a forage area is situated in a Member State other than that of the farmer's principal place of business, that area shall be deemed, at the request of the farmer, to be part of that farmer's holding provided that it is situated in the immediate vicinity of the holding and that a major part of all the agricultural land used by that farmer is situated in the Member State in which he has his principal place of business.

Article 9

Control system as regards cross-compliance

Member States shall establish a system guaranteeing an effective control on the respect of cross-compliance. That system shall, in accordance with Chapter III of Title III of this Regulation, in particular provide for:

(a) where the competent control authority is not the Paying Agency, the transfer of the necessary information concerning the farmers applying for direct payments from the Paying Agency to the specialised control bodies and/or, where applicable, via the coordinating body referred to in Article 23(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(b) the methods to be applied for the selection of control samples;

(c) indications with regard to the nature and extent of the checks to be carried out;

(d) control reports containing in particular any detected non-compliance and an assessment of its severity, extent, permanence and repetition;

(e) where the competent control authority is not the Paying Agency, the transfer of the control reports from the specialised control bodies either to the Paying Agency or the coordinating body referred to in Article 23(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or both;

(f) the application of the system of reductions and exclusions by the Paying Agency.

Member States may, moreover, provide for a procedure according to which the farmer indicates to the Paying Agency the elements necessary to identify the requirements and standards applicable to him.

Article 10

Payment of aid

1. Without prejudice to the time period provided for in Article 28 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or any rules providing for the payment of advances in accordance with paragraph 3 of that Article, direct payments falling within the scope of this Regulation shall not be made before the checks with regard to eligibility criteria, to be carried out by the Member State pursuant to this Regulation, have been finalised.

2. With regard to checks of cross-compliance specified in chapter III of Title III of the present Regulation where such checks cannot be finalised before payment, any undue payments shall be recovered ►C1 according to Article 73 of this Regulation. ◄







TITLE II

AID APPLICATIONS







CHAPTER I

THE SINGLE APPLICATION

Article 11

Date of submission of the single application

1. A farmer applying for aid under any of the area-related aid schemes may only submit one single application per year.

►C1 A farmer who does not apply for aid under any of the area-related aid schemes but applies for aid under another aid scheme listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, shall submit a single application form if he has agricultural area as defined in Article 2(a) of Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 at his disposal in which he shall list these areas in accordance with Article 14 of this Regulation. ◄ However, Member States may exempt farmers from this obligation where the information concerned is made available to the competent authorities in the framework of other administration and control systems that guarantee compatibility with the integrated system in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

2. ►M1 The single application shall be submitted by a date to be fixed by the Member States which shall not be later than 15 May. However, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden may fix a later date which shall not be later than 15 June. ◄

In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 144 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, it may be allowed to postpone the dates referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in certain zones where exceptional climatic conditions render the normal dates inapplicable.

When fixing that date, Member States shall take into account the period required for all relevant data to be available for the proper administrative and financial management of the aid and shall ensure that effective controls may be scheduled, in particular considering the date to be fixed in accordance with Article 44 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

3. Where more than one Paying Agency is responsible with regard to the same farmer for the management of aid schemes subjected to the submission of a single application, the Member State concerned shall take the appropriate measures to ensure that the information requested in this Article is being made available to all Paying Agencies involved.

Article 12

Contents of the single application

1. The single application shall contain all information necessary to establish eligibility for the aid, in particular:

(a) the identity of the farmer;

(b) the aid scheme or schemes concerned;

(c) the identification of the payment entitlements in accordance with the identification and registration system provided for in Article 7 for the purposes of the single payment scheme, broken down by set-aside entitlements and other entitlements;

(d) particulars permitting identification of all agricultural parcels on the holding, their area expressed in hectares to two decimal places, their location and, where applicable, their use and whether the agricultural parcel is irrigated;

(e) a statement by the farmer that he is aware of the conditions pertaining to the aid schemes in question.

2. For the purpose of the identification of the payment entitlements referred to in paragraph 1(c), the pre-printed forms distributed to the farmer in accordance with Article 22 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall mention the identification of the payment entitlements in accordance with the identification and registration system provided for in Article 7 broken down by set-aside entitlements and other entitlements.

When submitting the application-form, the farmer shall correct the pre-printed form if any amendments, in particular transfers of payment entitlements in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, have occurred.

The farmer shall declare separately the area supporting set-aside entitlements and the area supporting other entitlements. In accordance with Article 54 (6) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the farmer shall claim his set-aside entitlements before any other entitlements. Consequently, the farmer shall declare the area for set-aside corresponding to his number of set-aside entitlements provided he has a sufficient amount of eligible area at his disposal. In case the amount of eligible area is less than the number of set-aside entitlements, the farmer may claim the number of set-aside entitlements corresponding to the amount of area at his disposal.

3. For the purpose of the identification of all agricultural parcels on the holding referred to in paragraph 1(d), the pre-printed forms distributed to the farmer in accordance with Article 22(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall mention the maximum eligible area per reference parcel for the purposes of the single payment scheme. Moreover, the graphical material supplied to the farmer in accordance with that same provision shall indicate the boundaries of the reference parcels and their unique identification and the farmer shall indicate the location of each agricultural parcel. When submitting the application-form, the farmer shall, moreover, correct the pre-printed form if any amendments have occurred.

Article 13

Specific requirements pertaining to the single application

1. In the case where an application for aid for arable crops area payments in accordance with Chapter 10 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 contains a declaration of the cultivation of flax and hemp grown for fibre pursuant to Article 106 of that Regulation, the official labels used on the packaging of the seeds in accordance with Council Directive 2002/57/EC ( 20 ), and in particular Article 12 thereof, shall be submitted or, in the case of flax grown for fibre, any other documents recognised as equivalent by the Member State concerned, including the certification provided for in Article 19 of that Directive.

Where sowing takes place after the deadline for submitting the single application, those labels or documents shall be submitted by 30 June at the latest.

Where labels for seed of hemp grown for fibre also have to be submitted to other national authorities, Member States may provide for those labels to be returned to the farmer once they have been submitted.

In the case of hemp grown for fibre, all information required for the identification of the parcels sown in hemp for each variety of hemp sown shall be provided.

In that case and in the case where a farmer intends to produce hemp in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain:

(a) a copy of the contract or commitment referred to in Articles 52 and 106 of that Regulation, unless the Member State has provided that that copy may be submitted by a later date which shall not be later than 15 September;

(b) in the case referred to in Article 52 of that Regulation, an indication as to the quantities of the seeds used (kg per hectare);

(c) the official labels used on the packaging of the seeds in accordance with Directive 2002/57/EC, and in particular Article 12 thereof; however, where sowing takes place after the deadline for submitting the single application, the labels shall be submitted by 30 June at the latest; where the labels also have to be submitted to other national authorities, the Member States may provide for those labels to be returned to the farmer once they have been submitted in accordance with this point.

2. In the case of set-aside land used in accordance with Article 55(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or the first indent of Article 107(3) of that Regulation, the single application shall contain the necessary proof required under the applicable sectoral rules.

3. In the case of an application for aid for the specific quality premium for durum wheat provided for in Chapter I of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and for the durum wheat supplement and special aid provided for in Article 105 of that Regulation, the single application shall contain a proof, pursuant to the rules to be established by the Member State, that the minimum quantity of certified seeds for durum wheat has been used.

4. In the case of an application for the crop specific payment for rice provided for in Chapter 3 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain a specification of the variety of rice sown and an identification of the respective parcels.

5. In the case of an application for an area payment for nuts ►C1 provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation ◄ (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain the number of trees, their positioning and their type.

6. In the case of an application for energy crops provided for in Chapter 5 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain a copy of the contract the applicant has concluded with a first processor pursuant to Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 2237/2003.

7. In the case of an application for aid for starch potato provided for in Chapter 6 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain a copy of the cultivation contract; however, Member States may provide that that copy may be submitted by a later date which shall not be later than30 June.

8. In the case of an application for seed aid provided for in Chapter 9 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain:

(a) a copy of the growing contract or growing declaration; however, Member States may provide that that copy may be submitted by a later date which shall not be later than 15 September;

(b) an indication of the species of seeds sown on each parcel;

(c) an indication of the quantity of certified seed produced, expressed in quintals to one decimal point; however, Member States may provide that that information may be submitted by a later date which shall not be later than 15 June of the year following the harvest;

(d) a copy of the supporting documents showing that the quantities of seed referred to have been officially certified; however, Member States may provide that that information may be submitted by a later date which shall not be later than ►M1 15 June ◄ of the year following the harvest.

▼M1

9. In the case of an application for the additional hops aid provided for in Article 68a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain an indication of the respective areas.

▼B

Article 14

General rules pertaining to the single application and declarations in relation to particular uses of area

1. Uses of area referred to in Articles 5(2) and 51 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and those listed in Annex V to that Regulation, as well as areas used for the production of flax grown for fibre where those areas do not have to be declared in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation, shall be declared under a separate heading in the single application form.

▼M1

Moreover, in the case where a Member State makes use of the option under Article 68a of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 to make a payment to recognised producer groups referred to in the second paragraph of that Article the farmer shall declare his agricultural parcels used for the cultivation of hops also under a separate heading in the single application form. In that case the farmer shall also indicate in the single application form his membership in the producer group concerned.

▼B

Uses of area neither for the purposes of the aid schemes provided for in Titles III and IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 nor listed in Annex V to that Regulation shall be declared under one or more ‘other uses’ headings.

Member States may provide that the first and second subparagraphs shall not apply where the information concerned is made available to the competent authorities in the framework of other administration and control systems that guarantee compatibility with the integrated system in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

▼M1

1a. If, for a given year, a farmer does not declare all the areas referred to in paragraph 1 and the difference between the overall area declared in the single application on the one hand and the area declared plus the overall area of the parcels not declared, on the other, is more than 3 % of the area declared, the overall amount of direct payments payable to that farmer for that year shall be reduced by up to 3 % depending on the severity of the omission.

▼B

2. For the first year of application of the single payment scheme the Member States may derogate from the provisions of Articles 12 and 13 if the payment entitlements are not yet definitively established at the latest date fixed for the submission of the single application.

3. Member States may decide that all applications for aid under Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall be covered by the single application. In that case, Chapters II and III of this Title shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of the particular requirements established in view of the application for aid under those schemes.

4. Each Member State shall determine the minimum size of agricultural parcels in respect of which an application may be made. However, the minimum size may not exceed 0,3 ha.

Article 15

Amendments to the single applications

1. After the expiry of the time limit for the submission of the single application, individual agricultural parcels, as the case may be, accompanied by the corresponding payment entitlements, not yet declared in the single application for the purposes of any of the area-related aid schemes, may be added in the single application provided that the requirements under the aid schemes concerned are respected.

Changes regarding the use or aid scheme in respect of individual agricultural parcels already declared in the single application may be made under the same conditions.

Where the amendments referred to in the first and second subparagraphs have a bearing on any supporting documents or contracts to be submitted, the related amendments to such documents or contracts shall also be allowed.

▼M1

2. Without prejudice to the dates fixed by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland or Sweden for the submission of the single application in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 11(2), amendments made in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be notified to the competent authority in writing by 31 May of the calendar year concerned at the latest, except in the case of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden where they shall be notified by 15 June of the calendar year concerned at the latest.

▼B

3. Where the competent authority has already informed the farmer of irregularities in the single application or where it has given notice to the farmer of its intention to carry out an on-the-spot check and where that on-the-spot check reveals irregularities, ►C1 amendments in accordance with paragraph 1 shall not be authorised ◄ in respect of the agricultural parcels affected by the irregularities.

▼M1







CHAPTER Ia

AID APPLICATIONS FOR HOPS PAYMENTS BY RECOGNISED PRODUCER GROUPS

Article 15a

Aid application

An aid application of producer groups applying for aid in accordance with Article 171 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 ( 21 ) shall contain all information necessary to establish eligibility for the aid, and in particular:

(a) the identity of the producer group;

(b) particulars permitting identification of the agricultural parcels concerned;

(c) a statement by the producer group that it is aware of the conditions pertaining to the aid in question.

The producer group may only declare agricultural parcels used for the cultivation of hops and which were declared, in the same calendar year, by the members of the producer group in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 14(1) of this Regulation.

The Member States may simplify the application procedure by sending to the producer group a pre-printed application form listing all the parcels declared for that purpose by their respective members in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 14(1) of this Regulation.

▼B







CHAPTER II

LIVESTOCK AID APPLICATIONS

Article 16

Requirements pertaining to livestock aid applications

1. A livestock aid application shall contain all information necessary to establish eligibility for the aid, and in particular:

(a) the identity of the farmer;

(b) a reference to the single application if it has already been submitted;

(c) the number of animals of each type in respect of which any aid is applied for and, for bovines, the identification code of the animals;

(d) where applicable, an undertaking by the farmer to keep the animals referred to in point (c) on his holding during the retention period and information on the location or locations where the animals will be held including the period or periods concerned;

(e) where applicable, the individual limit or individual ceiling for the animals concerned;

(f) where applicable, the individual milk reference quantity available to the farmer on 31 March or, if the Member State concerned decides to make use of the derogation provided for in Article 44a of Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999, on 1 April of the calendar year concerned; where this quantity is unknown on the date on which the application is submitted, it shall be notified to the competent authority at the earliest opportunity;

(g) a statement by the farmer that he is aware of the conditions pertaining to the aid in question.

If the animal is moved to another location during the retention period the farmer shall inform the competent authority in writing in advance.

2. Member States shall guarantee every animal keeper the right to obtain from the competent authority without constraint, at reasonable intervals and without excessive delay, information on the data relating to him and his animals kept in the computerised database for bovine animals. When submitting his aid application, the farmer shall declare that that data is correct and complete or he shall rectify incorrect data or add missing data.

3. Member States may decide that some of the information referred to in paragraph 1 need not be included in the aid application, where it has already been communicated to the competent authority.

Member States may in particular introduce procedures by which data contained in the computerised database for bovine animals may be used for the purposes of the aid application, provided that the computerised database for bovine animals offers the level of assurance and implementation necessary for the proper management of the aid schemes involved. Such procedures may consist of a system according to which a farmer may apply for aid in respect of all animals which, at a date to be determined by the Member State, qualify for aid on the basis of the data contained in the computerised database for bovine animals. In that case, Member States shall take the necessary measures to guarantee that:

(a) in accordance with the provisions applicable to the aid scheme in question, the starting and end dates of the relevant retention periods are clearly identified and known to the farmer;

(b) the farmer is aware that any animals found not to be correctly identified or registered in the system for the identification and registration for bovine animals shall count as animals found with irregularities as referred to in Article 59. As regards the suckler cow premium in accordance with Article 125 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, irregularities found with regard to the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals shall be allocated proportionately between the number of animals needed to receive the premium and the animals needed for the supply of milk or milk products pursuant to Article 125(2)(b) of that Regulation. However, such irregularities shall first be allocated to the number of animals not needed within the individual limits or ceilings referred to in Article 125(2)(b) and Article 126.

4. Member States may provide that some of the information referred to in paragraph 1 can or shall be forwarded via a body or bodies approved by them. However, the farmer shall remain responsible for the data transmitted.







CHAPTER III

AID APPLICATION FOR THE DAIRY PREMIUM AND THE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

Article 17

Requirements pertaining to aid applications for the dairy premium and additional payments

Each milk producer applying for the dairy premium and additional payments provided for in Chapter 7 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall submit an aid application containing all information necessary to establish eligibility for the aid, and in particular:

(a) the identity of the farmer;

(b) a statement by the farmer that he is aware of the conditions pertaining to the aid in question.

The aid application shall be submitted by a date to be determined by the Member States which shall not be later than 15 May and, in the case of Finland and Sweden, 15 June.







CHAPTER IV

COMMON PROVISIONS

Article 18

Simplification of procedures

1. Without prejudice to any specific provisions of this Regulation and of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, Member States may permit or require that any kind of communications under this Regulation both from the farmer to the authorities and vice versa be made by electronic means. In that case, appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure in particular that:

(a) the farmer is unambiguously identified;

(b) the farmer complies with all requirements under the aid scheme concerned;

(c) the transmitted data is reliable in view of the proper management of the aid scheme concerned; where use is made of the data contained in the computerised database for bovine animals, that database shall offer the level of assurance and implementation necessary for the proper management of the aid schemes involved;

(d) where accompanying documents cannot be transmitted electronically, such documents are received by the competent authorities within the same time limits as in the case of transmission by non-electronic means;

(e) there is no discrimination between farmers using non-electronic means of submission and those opting for electronic transmission;

2. With regard to the submission of aid applications, Member States may, under the conditions provided in paragraph 1(a) to (e), provide for simplified procedures where data is already available to the authorities, in particular where the situation has not changed since the latest submission of an aid application under the aid scheme concerned.

Article 19

Adjustments of obvious errors

Without prejudice to Articles 11 to 18, an aid application may be adjusted at any time after its submission, in cases of obvious errors recognised by the competent authority.

Article 20

Derogation from the final date for the submission of aid applications, supporting documents, contracts and declarations

By way of derogation from Article 5(1) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 ( 22 ), where the latest date for the submission of an aid application or any supporting documents, contracts or declarations under this Title is a public holiday, a Saturday or a Sunday, it shall be deemed to fall on the first following working day.

▼M1

The first paragraph shall also apply with regard to applications by farmers to the single payment scheme in accordance with Article 34(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

▼B

Article 21

Late submission

1. Except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances as referred to in Article 72, the submission of an aid application pursuant to this Regulation after the relevant time limit shall lead to a 1 % reduction per working day in the amounts to which the farmer would have been entitled if the application had been lodged within the time limit.

Without prejudice to any particular measures to be taken by the Member States with regard to the need for the submission of any supporting documents in due time to allow effective controls to be scheduled and carried out, the first subparagraph shall also apply with regard to documents, contracts or declarations to be submitted to the competent authority in accordance with Articles 12 and 13 where such documents, contracts or declarations are constitutive for the eligibility for the aid in question. In that case, the reduction shall be applied on the amount payable for the aid concerned.

If the delay amounts to more than 25 calendar days the application shall be considered inadmissible.

2. The submission of an amendment to a single application after the latest date as provided for in Article 15(2) shall lead to a 1 % reduction per working day in the amounts relating to the actual use of the agricultural parcels concerned.

Amendments to a single application shall only be admissible until the latest date for a late submission of a single application as specified in the third subparagraph of paragraph 1. However, where that date is earlier than, or the same as, the latest date provided for in Article 15(2), amendments to a single application shall be considered inadmissible after the date provided for in ►M1 Article 15(2) ◄ .

3. As regards forage areas, where the single application is submitted late, the resulting reduction shall be in addition to any other reduction applicable to late submissions of applications for aid ►C1 referred to in Articles 131 and 132 ◄ of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

▼M1

Article 21a

Late submission of an application to the single payment scheme

1. Without prejudice to cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 34(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and by way of derogation from Article 21 of this Regulation, in the first year of the application of the single payment scheme in accordance with Title III of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, where, in the Member Stat concerned, an application for the allocation of entitlements in accordance with Article 34(3) of that Regulation and the single application for that year have to be submitted together by the farmer and where the farmer submits those applications after the relevant time limit, a 4 % reduction per working day shall be applied to the amounts to be paid in that year in respect of the payment entitlements to be allocated to the farmer.

If such delay exceeds 25 calendar days, the application shall be considered inadmissible and no payment entitlements shall be allocated to the farmer.

2. Where, in the Member State concerned, the application to the single payment scheme and the single application have to be submitted independently from each other, Article 21 shall apply with regard to the submission of the single application.

In that case, without prejudice to cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 34(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the submission of an application to the single payment scheme in accordance with that Article after the relevant time limit shall lead to a 3 % reduction per working day in the amounts to be paid in the first year of the application of the single payment scheme in respect of the payment entitlements to be allocated to the farmer.

If the delay exceeds 25 calendar days, the application shall be considered inadmissible and no payment entitlements shall be allocated to the farmer.

▼B

Article 22

Withdrawal of aid applications

1. An aid application may be totally or partially withdrawn at any time in writing.

In the case where a Member State makes use of the possibilities provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 16(3), that Member State may provide that the notifications to the computerised database for bovine animals of an animal that has left the holding may substitute a withdrawal in writing.

However, where the competent authority has already informed the farmer of irregularities in the aid application or where the competent authority has given notice to the farmer of its intention to carry out an on-the-spot check and where that on-the-spot check reveals irregularities, withdrawals shall not be authorised in respect of the parts of the aid application affected by the irregularities.

2. Withdrawals in accordance with paragraph 1 shall put the claimant into the position he was in before he submitted the aid application or part of the aid application in question.







TITLE III

CONTROLS







CHAPTER I

COMMON RULES

Article 23

General principles

1. Administrative and on-the-spot checks provided for in this Regulation shall be made in such a way as to ensure effective verification of compliance with the terms under which aids are granted and of the requirements and standards relevant for cross-compliance.

2. The applications for aid concerned shall be rejected if the farmer or his representative prevents an on-the-spot check from being carried out.







CHAPTER II

CONTROLS WITH REGARD TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA







Section I

Administrative checks

Article 24

Cross-checks

1. The administrative checks referred to in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall permit the detection of irregularities, in particular the automated detection using computerised means, including cross-checks:

(a) on declared payment entitlements and on declared parcels, respectively, in order to avoid undue multiple granting of the same aid in respect of the same calendar or marketing year and to prevent any undue cumulating of aid granted under area-related aid schemes listed in Annexes I and V to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(b) on the payment entitlements to verify their existence and the eligibility for aid;

(c) between the agricultural parcels as declared in the single application and the reference parcels as contained in the identification system for agricultural parcels to verify the eligibility for aid of the areas as such;

(d) between the payment entitlements and the area determined in order to verify that the entitlements are accompanied by an equal number of eligible hectares as defined in Article 44(2) and Article 54(2), respectively, of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(e) by means of the computerised database for bovine animals, to verify eligibility for the aid and to avoid undue multiple granting of the same aid in respect of the same calendar year;

(f) where supporting documents, contracts or growing declarations have to be submitted and where applicable, between the agricultural parcels as declared in the single application and in the supporting documents, contracts or growing declaration to verify the eligibility for aid of the area;

(g) between the agricultural parcels as declared in the single application and plots subjected to official examination that have been found to comply with the requirements of the Directives referred to in Article 1(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1674/72 of 2 August 1972 laying down general rules for granting and financing aid for seed ( 23 );

▼M1

(h) between the agricultural parcels declared by producer groups in accordance with Article 15a, the corresponding parcels declared by the members of the producer group in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 14(1), and the reference parcels as contained in the identification system for agricultural parcels to verify the eligibility for the aid;

▼B

2. Indications of irregularities resulting from cross-checks shall be followed-up by any other appropriate administrative procedure, and where necessary, by an on-the-spot check.







Section II

on-the-spot checks







Sub-section I

Common provisions

Article 25

General principles

1. On-the-spot checks shall be unannounced. However, provided that the purpose of the control is not jeopardised, advance notice may be given, strictly limited to the minimum time period necessary. Such notice shall, except in duly justified cases, not exceed 48 hours.

2. Where appropriate, on-the-spot checks provided for in this Regulation and any other checks provided for in Community rules shall be carried out at the same time.

Article 26

Control rate

1. The total number of on-the-spot checks carried out each year shall cover at least 5 % of all farmers submitting a single application.

Subject to the third subparagraph, in the following cases the Member States shall draw additional control samples of at least:

(a) 5 % of all farmers applying for aid for starch potato provided for in Chapter 6 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(b) 5 % per species of seed for which aid is claimed in accordance with Article 99 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(c) 50 % of all farmers applying for aid for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 in the case where a Member State makes use of the possibility not to introduce, in accordance with Article 6(3) of this Regulation, an additional layer of GIS information; With regard to all other Member States, in respect of the year 2005, 5 % of all farmers applying for aid for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 unless the additional layer of GIS information has already been introduced.

Where the control sample drawn under the first subparagraph already contains applicants for the aids referred to in points (a) to (c) of the second subparagraph, those applicants may be counted towards the control rates stipulated therein.

2. The total number of on-the-spot checks carried out each year shall, moreover, cover at least:

(a) the minimum control rate of 30 % or 20 % of the areas declared for the production of hemp as referred to in Article 52 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. Where a Member State has already introduced a system of prior approval for such cultivation and has already notified the Commission of its detailed rules and conditions linked to that system prior to the entry into force of this Regulation, any amendments to those detailed rules or conditions shall be notified to the Commission without undue delay.

(b) 5 % of all farmers applying for aid under the bovine aid schemes. However, where the computerised database for bovine animals does not offer the level of assurance and implementation necessary for the proper management of the aid schemes involved the percentage shall be increased to 10 %. Those on-the-spot checks shall also cover at least 5 % of all animals per aid scheme for which aid is applied for;

(c) 10 % of all farmers applying for aid under the ovine/caprine aid scheme irrespective of whether the aid applications are being submitted as part of the single application or independently;

(d) 2 % of all milk producers applying for the dairy premium and/or additional payments;

▼M1

(e) 5 % of all farmers whose agricultural parcels are being declared by a producer group applying for hops payments in accordance with Article 15a.

▼B

3. Should on-the-spot checks reveal significant irregularities in the context of a given aid scheme or in a region or part of a region, the competent authority shall appropriately increase the number of on-the-spot checks during the current year and shall appropriately increase the percentage of farmers to be checked on-the-spot in the following year.

4. Where it is provided that particular elements of an on-the-spot check may be carried out on the basis of a sample, that sample shall guarantee a reliable and representative level of control. Member States shall establish the criteria for the selection of the sample. If the checks on that sample reveal irregularities, the extent and scope of the sample shall be extended appropriately.

Article 27

Selection of the control sample

1. Farmers subjected to on-the-spot checks shall be selected by the competent authority on the basis of a risk analysis and an element of representativeness of the aid applications submitted. The effectiveness of risk analysis parameters used in previous years shall be assessed on an annual basis.

To provide the element of representativeness, the Member States shall select randomly between 20 % and 25 % of the minimum number of farmers to be subjected to on-the-spot checks as provided for in Article 26(1) and (2).

2. The risk analysis shall take account of:

(a) the amount of aid involved;

(b) the number of agricultural parcels and the area or number of animals for which aid is requested;

(c) changes from the previous year;

(d) the findings of checks made in past years;

(e) cases of non-compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and Regulation (EC) No 21/2004;

(f) those farmers who are either just above or below ceilings or limits relevant for the granting of aids;

(g) replacements of animals pursuant to Article 58 of this Regulation;

(h) compliance with Article 49(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(i) the quantity of potatoes intended for the manufacture of potato starch with regard to the area declared in the cultivation contract referred to in Article 13(7);

(j) in the case of an application for seed aid provided for in chapter 9 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the quantity of certified seeds in relation to the area declared;

(k) other factors to be defined by the Member States.

3. The competent authority shall keep records of the reasons for the selection of each farmer for an on-the-spot check. The inspector carrying out the on-the-spot check shall be informed accordingly prior to the commencement of the on-the-spot check.

Article 28

Control report

1. Every on-the-spot check under this Section shall be the subject of a control report which makes it possible to review the details of the checks carried out. The report shall indicate in particular:

(a) the aid schemes and applications checked;

(b) the persons present;

(c) the agricultural parcels checked, the agricultural parcels measured, the results of the measurements per measured agricultural parcel and the measuring methods used;

(d) the number and type of animals found and, where applicable, the ear tag numbers, entries in the register and in the computerised database for bovine animals and any supporting documents checked, the results of the checks and, where applicable, particular observations in respect of individual animals and/or their identification code;

(e) whether notice was given to the farmer of the visit and, if so, the period of advance notification;

(f) indications of any specific control measures to be carried out in the context of individual aid schemes;

(g) indication of any further control measures carried out.

2. The farmer shall be given the opportunity to sign the report to attest his presence at the check and to add observations. Where irregularities are found the farmer shall receive a copy of the control report.

Where the on-the-spot check is carried out by means of remote sensing in accordance with Article 32, the Member States may decide not to give the farmer or his representative the opportunity to sign the control report if no irregularities are revealed during the check by remote-sensing. If irregularities are revealed as a consequence of such checks the opportunity to sign the report shall be given before the competent authority draws its conclusions from the findings with regard to any resulting reductions or exclusions.







Sub-section II

on-the-spot checks of the Single applications with regard to area-related aid schemes

Article 29

Elements of the on-the-spot checks

On-the-spot checks shall cover all the agricultural parcels for which aid is requested under aid schemes listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, except those related to applications for seed aid in accordance with Article 99 of that Regulation. However, the actual inspection in the field as part of an on-the-spot check may be limited to a sample of at least half of the agricultural parcels for which applications have been submitted.

Article 30

Determination of areas

1. Agricultural parcel areas shall be determined by any appropriate means defined by the competent authority which ensure measurement of a precision at least equivalent to that required for official measurements under the national rules. A measurement tolerance may be defined by the competent authority that shall not exceed either 5 % of the agricultural parcel area or a buffer of 1,5 m applied to the perimeter of the agricultural parcel. However, the maximum tolerance with regard to each agricultural parcel shall not, in absolute terms, exceed 1,0 ha.

2. The total area of an agricultural parcel may be taken into account provided that it is fully utilized in accordance with the customary standards of the Member State or region concerned. In other cases the area actually utilized shall be taken into account.

In respect of the regions where certain features, in particular hedges, ditches and walls, are traditionally part of good agriculture cropping or utilisation practices, the Member States may decide that the corresponding area is to be considered part of the fully utilised area on condition that it does not exceed a total width to be determined by the Member States. That width must correspond to a traditional width in the region in question and shall not exceed 2 metres.

Member States may, after prior notification to the Commission, allow a width greater than 2 metres if the arable crop areas concerned were taken into account for the fixing of the yields of the regions concerned.

3. Further to paragraph 2, in the case of parcels being declared for the purposes of the single payment scheme, any features referred to in the acts listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or which may form part of the good agricultural and environmental condition as referred to in Article 5 and Annex IV of that Regulation shall form part of the total area of an agricultural parcel.

4. The eligibility of agricultural parcels shall be verified by any appropriate means. To that end, additional proof shall be requested where necessary.

Article 31

Elements of the on-the-spot checks related to applications for seed aid

On-the-spot checks related to applications for seed aid in accordance with Article 99 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 shall cover in particular:

(a) checks at the level of the farmer applying for the aid: (i) on all parcels to verify the species or variety group of seeds sown on each parcel declared; (ii) on documents to verify at least the first destination of seed for which aid has been claimed; (iii) any checks deemed necessary by the Member States to ensure that aid is not paid with regard to uncertified seed or seed from