2004R0796 — EN — 01.01.2009 — 010.001

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 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, as well as for the implementation of cross-compliance provided for in Regulation (EC) No 479/2008

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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

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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, and for the implementation of cross-compliance according to Articles 20 and 103 of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 ( 6 ). It shall be without prejudice to specific provisions laid down in the Regulations covering the individual aid schemes.

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Article 2

Definitions

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

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(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;

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(1a) ‘Agricultural parcel’: shall mean a continuous area of land on which a single crop group is cultivated by a single farmer; however, where a separate declaration of the use of an area within a crop group is required in the context of this Regulation, that specific use shall further limit the agricultural parcel;

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(1b) ‘Olive parcel’ shall mean an agricultural parcel with olive trees, as defined in point 1(a) of Annex XXIV to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 ( 7 );

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(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 ( 8 ), 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 ( 9 ) and areas set aside in accordance with Articles 22, 23 and 24 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 ( 10 );

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(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;

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(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 ( 11 );

(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 ( 12 ), with Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 ( 13 ), 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;

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(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;

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(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 Titles IV and IVa of that Regulation, except those established under Chapters 7, 10f, 11 and 12 of that Title IV, except the separate sugar payment established in Article 143b(a) of that Regulation and except the separate fruit and vegetable payment established in Article 143bb of that Regulation;

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(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;

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(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 90 and 94 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, in relation to the special premium for male bovines; (b) Article 101 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, in relation to the suckler cow premium; (c) Article 123 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, in relation to the slaughter premium; (d) Article 70(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, in relation to aid paid for ovines and caprines;

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(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;

▼M4

(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 in accordance with Article 5 of that Regulation;

▼M11

(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 7 and 8 of Annex III to that Regulation shall establish one single act;

▼M4

(33) ‘Standards’: shall mean the standards as defined by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Annex IV thereto as well as the obligations in relation to permanent pasture as laid down in Article 4 of this Regulation;

▼B

(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;

▼M4

(35) ‘Non-compliance’: shall mean any non-compliance with the requirements and standards;

▼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.

▼M15

For the purposes of the application of the cross-compliance obligations within the meaning of Articles 20 and 103 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2008, ‘from payment’ shall mean as from the 1 January of the year following the calendar year in which the first payment was granted.

▼M10

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

▼M11

7. For Bulgaria and Romania, 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 2007 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 2007.

▼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.

▼M5 —————

▼B

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.

▼M10

2. Where an 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

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

▼M15

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

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 to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or for support pursuant to Articles 11, 12 and 98 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2008, 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.

A farmer who is only subject to cross-compliance obligations in accordance with Articles 20 and 103 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 shall submit a single application form in each calendar year in which those obligations apply.

However, Member States may exempt farmers from the obligations provided for in the second and third subparagraphs 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.

▼B

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;

▼M4

(e) where appropriate, the olive area expressed in olive GIS-ha, in accordance with points 2 and 3 of Annex XXIV to Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004;

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

▼B

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.

▼M4 —————

▼B

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.

▼M4

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 provision shall indicate the boundaries of the reference parcels and their unique identification and the farmer shall indicate the location of each agricultural parcel.

▼M9

In the Member States which include the geographical information system for olive cultivation in the identification system for the agricultural parcels referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the graphic material supplied to the farmer as regards olive parcels shall include for each olive parcel the number of eligible olive trees and their positioning in the parcel as well as the olive area expressed in olive GIS-ha in accordance with point 3 of Annex XXIV of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004.

▼M4

In the case of an application for aid for olive groves provided for in Chapter 10b of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the graphical material supplied to the farmer shall include for each olive parcel:

(a) the number of non eligible olive trees and their positioning in the parcel;

(b) the olive area expressed in olive GIS-ha, in accordance with point 2 of Annex XXIV to Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004;

(c) the category under which aid is claimed, as established in accordance with Article 110i(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(d) where appropriate, an indication that the parcel is covered by a programme approved by the Commission as referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 ( 20 ), and the number of olive trees concerned and their positioning in the parcel.

4. When submitting the application form, the farmer shall correct the pre-printed form referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 if any amendments, in particular transfers of payment entitlements in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, have occurred or if any of the information contained in the pre-printed forms is incorrect.

►M10 If the correction relates to the reference parcel area, the farmer shall declare the up-to-date area of each agricultural parcel concerned and where necessary indicate the new boundaries of the reference parcel. ◄ However, where the positioning of olive trees indicated in the graphical material is incorrect, the farmer shall not be obliged to indicate the resulting correct size of the area expressed in olive GIS-ha but shall only indicate the actual position of the trees.

▼B

Article 13

Specific requirements pertaining to the single application

▼M8

1. In the case where a farmer intends to produce hemp in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or hemp grown for fibre as referred to in Article 106 of that Regulation, the single application shall contain:

(a) all information required for the identification of the parcels sown in hemp, indicating the varieties of seed used;

(b) 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 Council Directive 2002/57/EC ( 21 ), and in particular Article 12 thereof.

By way of derogation from point (c) of the first subparagraph, 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 that point. The labels returned shall be marked as used for an application.

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 cultivation of flax and hemp grown for fibre as referred to in Article 106 of that Regulation, the single application shall contain a copy of the contract or commitment referred to in that Article, 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

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.

▼M5

5. In the case of an application for an area payment for nuts as provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain the number of nut trees by species.

▼M10

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 collector or a first processor pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 or, in case of application of Article 33(2) of that Regulation, a written declaration in accordance with that Article.

▼B

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 than 30 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.

▼M4

10. In the case of an application for the specific payment for cotton provided for in Chapter 10a of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain:

(a) the name of the variety of cotton seed used;

(b) where appropriate, the name and address of the approved inter-branch organisation of which the farmer is a member.

11. In the case of an application for the aid for olive groves provided for in Chapter 10b of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall, for each olive parcel, contain the number and the positioning in the parcel:

(a) of the olive trees grubbed and replaced;

(b) of the olive trees grubbed and not replaced;

(c) of supplementary olive trees planted.

12. In the case of an application for the tobacco aid provided for in Chapter 10c of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, the single application shall contain:

(a) a copy of the cultivation contract referred to in Article 110k(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or a reference to its registration number;

(b) an indication of the tobacco variety grown on each agricultural parcel;

(c) a copy of the supporting control certificate issued by the competent authority indicating the quantity of dried tobacco leafs which has been delivered to the first processor, expressed in kilogram.

Member States may provide that the information referred to in point (c) may be submitted separately by a later date which shall not be later than 15 May of the year following the harvest.

▼M8 —————

▼M11

13a. In case of application for transitional fruit and vegetables payments provided for in Chapter 10g of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 or application for transitional soft fruit payments provided for in Chapter 10h of that Title, the single application shall contain a copy of the contract for processing or the commitment to supply pursuant to Article 171db of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004.

Member States may provide that the information in the first subparagraph may be submitted separately by a later date which shall not be later than 1 December the year of the application.

▼M10

14. The information required in the supporting documents set out in this Article may, when possible, be requested directly from the source of the information by the competent authority.

▼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.

▼M7

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

▼B

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.

▼M15

The first subparagraph shall also, where the farmer is subject to cross-compliance obligations in accordance with Articles 20 and 103 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2008, apply to payments provided for under Articles 11, 12 and 98 of that Regulation. The percentage of the reduction shall apply to the total amount to be paid divided by the number of years referred to in Articles 20 and 103 of the same Regulation.

▼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.

▼M7

Member States may, under the same conditions, also allow changes regarding the use or aid scheme in respect of individual agricultural parcels already declared in the single application.

The derogations provided for in the first and second subparagraphs shall also apply with regard to the first year when new sectors are introduced into the single payment scheme and the payment entitlements are not yet definitively established for the farmers concerned by this introduction.

▼B

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.

▼M7

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

▼M10

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.

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However, in respect of the year 2007, the amendments made in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be notified to the competent authority by 15 June at the latest in those Member States which apply Article 48c(8) of Regulation (EC) No 795/2004. In duly justified cases, notifications of such amendments shall be accepted until 20 days following the publication of Regulation (EC) No 972/2007 ( 22 ) in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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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.

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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 ( 23 ) 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.

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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;

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(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 130 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004, 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;

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(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.

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CHAPTER IIIa

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AID FOR SUGAR BEET AND CANE PRODUCERS, SEPARATE SUGAR PAYMENT AND SEPARATE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES PAYMENT

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Article 17a

►M11 Requirements pertaining to aid applications for the aid for sugar beet and cane producers, the separate sugar payment and the separate fruit and vegetables payment ◄

1. ►M11 Farmers applying for the aid for sugar beet and cane producers provided for in Chapter 10f of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, farmers applying for the separate sugar payment provided for in Article 143ba of that Regulation and farmers applying for the separate fruit and vegetables payment provided for in Article 143bb of that Regulation 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 application for the aid to sugar beet and cane producers shall also contain a copy of the delivery contract referred to in Article 110r of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

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2. The aid application for the aid for sugar beet and cane producers, the separate sugar payment or the separate fruit and vegetables payment respectively 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 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, not later than 15 June.

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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 ( 24 ), 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.

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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.

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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) ◄ .

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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.

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3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply in the first year of the inclusion of new sectors into the single payment scheme in respect of applications of farmers concerning their participation in such sectors.

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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.

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Article 23a

1. Provided that the purpose of the control is not jeopardised, on-the-spot checks may be announced. The announcement shall be strictly limited to the minimum time period necessary and shall not exceed 14 days.

However, for on-the-spot checks concerning livestock aid applications, the notice mentioned in the first subparagraph shall, except in duly justified cases, not exceed 48 hours. Furthermore, where the legislation applicable to the acts and standards relevant to cross-compliance requires the on-the-spot check to be unannounced, those rules shall also apply in the case of on-the-spot checks related to cross-compliance.

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.

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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;

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(f) where supporting documents, contracts, growing declarations or written declarations in accordance with Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 have to be submitted and where applicable, between the agricultural parcels as declared in the single application and in the supporting documents, contracts, growing declarations or written declarations in accordance with Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 to verify the eligibility for aid of the area;

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(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 ( 25 );

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(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;

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(i) between the agricultural parcels as declared in the single application and the parcels authorised for cotton production by the Member State in accordance with Article 110b of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

(j) between the declarations of the farmers in the single application to be a member of an approved inter-branch organisation, the information under Article 13(10)(b) of this Regulation and the information transmitted by the approved inter-branch organisations concerned, to verify eligibility for the increase of the aid provided for in Article 110f(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

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(k) between the information provided in the delivery contract referred to in Article 110r of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and the information on deliveries provided by the sugar manufacturer.

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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.

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Where a reference parcel is subject to an aid application of two or more farmers under the same aid scheme and where the overall area declared exceeds the agricultural area with a difference which falls within the measurement tolerance defined in accordance with Article 30(1), Member States may provide for a proportional reduction of the areas concerned. In that case, farmers concerned may appeal against the decision of reduction on the grounds that any of the other farmers concerned over-declared their areas beyond that tolerance to his detriment.

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Section II

On-the-spot checks







Sub-section I

Common provisions

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▼B

Article 26

Control rate

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1. The total number of on-the-spot checks carried out each year shall cover at least 5 % of all farmers applying for the single payment scheme or the single area payment scheme.

The Member States shall assure that on-the-spot checks cover at least 3 % of the farmers applying for aid under each of other area related aid schemes provided for under Titles III, IV and IVa of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

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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;

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(c) 5 % 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; those on-the-s