TITLE III

CHECKS
CHAPTER III

On-the-spot checks within the integrated system
Section 2

On-the-spot checks with regard to aid applications for area-related aid schemes and payment claims for area-related support measures

Checks by monitoring
Article 40a
1.
Competent authorities may carry out checks by monitoring. Where they elect to do so, they shall:
1. set up a procedure of regular and systematic observation, tracking and assessment of all eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations which can be monitored by Copernicus Sentinels satellite data or other data with at least equivalent value, over a period of time that allows to conclude on the eligibility of the aid or support requested;
2. carry out, where necessary, and in order to conclude on the eligibility of aid or support requested, appropriate follow-up activities;
3. carry out checks for 5 % of the beneficiaries concerned by eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations which cannot be monitored by Copernicus Sentinels satellite data or other data with at least equivalent value, and are relevant to conclude on the eligibility of aid or support. Between 1 % and 1,25 % of the beneficiaries shall be selected randomly. The remaining beneficiaries shall be selected on the basis of a risk analysis;
4. inform beneficiaries about the decision to carry out checks by monitoring and set up appropriate tools to communicate with beneficiaries on at least provisional results at parcel level of the procedure set up in accordance with point (a) of this subparagraph, warning alerts and evidence requested for the purposes of points (b) and (c). Competent authorities shall ensure timely communication with the beneficiaries to support them in fulfilling the eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations and allow the beneficiaries to address or remedy the situation before the conclusions are drawn in the control report referred to in Article 41.
For the purposes of points (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph, physical inspections in the field shall be carried out when relevant evidence, including evidence provided by the beneficiary at the request of the competent authority, does not allow to conclude on the eligibility of the aid or support requested. Physical inspections in the field may be limited to checks of eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations that are relevant to conclude on the eligibility of the aid or support requested. These physical inspections shall include area measurement only where necessary to conclude on the compliance with these eligibility criteria, commitments or other obligations.
For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph, checks of eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations which cannot be monitored by Copernicus Sentinels satellite data or other data with at least equivalent value may be limited to a sample of at least 50 % of the agricultural parcels declared by a beneficiary. The competent authority may select this sample randomly or on the basis of other criteria. Where the sample of agricultural parcels is selected randomly and the checks reveal any non-compliance, the competent authority shall extrapolate the conclusions from the sample or shall check all agricultural parcels. Where the sample is selected on the basis of other criteria and the checks reveal any non-compliance, the competent authority shall check all agricultural parcels.
2.
Where the competent authority carries out checks by monitoring in accordance with paragraph 1, can demonstrate effective operational procedures fulfilling the requirements laid down in Articles 7, 17 and 29 of this Regulation and has proven the quality of the identification system for agricultural parcels as assessed in accordance with Article 6 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 640/2014:
1. Articles 25, 26,
30, 31,
32, 34, 35, 36, Article 37(2), (3) and (4) and Articles 38 and 40 of this Regulation do not apply;
2. the verification of tetrahydrocannabinol content in hemp growth carried out in accordance with Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 shall be made for 30 % of the area or 20 % of the area in case the
relevant authority
has a system of prior approval in place.
3.
The competent authority may decide to apply checks by monitoring at the level of the individual
area-related aid scheme or
support measure or type of operation
or to defined groups of beneficiaries subject to on-the-spot checks for the greening payment, as referred to in points (a) to (h) of Article 31(1)
.
In the first two years of application, the competent authority may decide to apply checks by monitoring to beneficiaries of an aid scheme or support measure in areas chosen on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. In such cases the areas subject to checks by monitoring in the second year of application shall be greater than in the first year of application.
Where the competent authority decides to carry out checks in accordance with the first or second subparagraph, paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply only to the beneficiaries subject to checks by monitoring.
4.
Where the procedure referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 reveals findings relevant for
direct payment schemes,
rural development measures and requirements and/or standards not checked by monitoring, competent authorities may decide to take into account those findings only in respect of beneficiaries selected in accordance with Articles
30, 31,
32 and 68 for on-the-spot checks of
direct payment schemes,
rural development measures and requirements and/or standards not checked by monitoring. The derogation shall be limited to the three years following the 1
st
of January of the calendar year in which the competent authority started carrying out checks by monitoring.
Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1804 of 28 October 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 as regards amendments of aid applications or payment claims, checks in the integrated administration and control system and the control system in relation to cross compliance.
Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/746 of 18 May 2018 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 as regards modification of single applications and payment claims and checks.
Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1804 of 28 October 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 as regards amendments of aid applications or payment claims, checks in the integrated administration and control system and the control system in relation to cross compliance.
Words in Art. 40a(3) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(b)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 40a(2)(b) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(a)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 40a(2)(b) substituted (31.1.2020 in so far as it relates to the Common Agricultural Policy direct payment schemes) by The Financing, Management and Monitoring of Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/90), regs. 1(2), 14(35)
Words in Art. 40a(4) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(c)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 40a(4) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(c)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 40a(2)(a) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(a)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 40a(3) omitted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by virtue of The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(36)(b)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(26)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 40a omitted (W.) (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to direct payments) by virtue of The Direct Payments to Farmers and Rural Affairs (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1556), regs. 1(2)(a), 4(23); and Art. 40a omitted (E.) (1.1.2021 in so far as it relates to direct payments) by virtue of The Direct Payments to Farmers and Cross-Compliance (Simplifications) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1387), regs. 1(1), 9(18); and Art. 40a omitted (W.) (26.3.2021 in so far as it relates to domestic support for rural development) by virtue of The Agricultural Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/400), regs. 1(2), 4(16)