[F1TITLE VU.K.CONTROL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES IN RELATION TO CROSS COMPLIANCE]

CHAPTER IIU.K.Control

Section 2U.K.On-the-spot checks

F1Article 68EMinimum control rate

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Extent Information

E1This version of this provision applies to England only; separate versions have been created for Northern Ireland and Wales and Scotland

Article 68WMinimum control rate

1.[F2The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving direct payments and the other beneficiaries referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 F3....][F4The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving annual premia referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 F5... .]

F6...

[F7The minimum control rate referred to in the first subparagraph may be reached at the level of each competent control authority or at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards. Where the checks are not carried out by the paying agency, this minimum control rate may however be reached at the level of each paying agency.]

Where the legislation applicable to the act and standards already fixes a minimum control rate, that rate shall be applied instead of the minimum rate referred to in the first subparagraph. Alternatively, [F8the relevant authority] may decide that any instances of non-compliance detected in the course of any on-the-spot checks under the legislation applicable to the acts and standards which are carried out outside the sample referred to in the first subparagraph, shall be reported to, and followed up by, the competent control authority in charge of the act or standard concerned. The provisions of this Chapter and Chapters I, II and III of Title III shall apply.

As regards the cross-compliance obligations in relation to Directive 96/22/EC, the application of a specific sampling level of monitoring plans shall be considered to fulfil the requirement of the minimum rate mentioned in the first subparagraph.

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in order to reach the minimum control rate referred to in that paragraph at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards, the [F9relevant authority] may:

(a)

use the results of on-the-spot checks carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards for the selected beneficiaries; or

(b)

replace selected beneficiaries by beneficiaries subject to an on-the-spot check carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards, provided that those beneficiaries are beneficiaries as referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

In such cases the on-the-spot checks shall cover all aspects of the relevant acts or standards as defined under cross-compliance. Furthermore the [F10relevant authority] shall ensure that the effectiveness of those on-the-spot checks is at least equal to that achieved when the on-the-spot checks are carried out by competent control authorities.

3.When establishing the minimum control rate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the required actions as referred to in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, shall not be taken into account.

4.Should on-the-spot checks reveal a significant degree of non-compliance with a given act or standard, the number of on-the-spot checks to be carried out for that act or standard in the following control period [F11may] be increased. Within a specific act the competent control authority may decide to limit the scope of those further on-the- spot checks to the most frequently infringed requirements.

5.When a [F12relevant authority] decides to make use of the option provided for in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the actions necessary to verify that the beneficiaries have remedied the situation of non-compliance concerned shall apply on a sample of 20 % of those beneficiaries.

Extent Information

E2This version of this provision applies to Wales only; separate versions have been created for England and Scotland and Northern Ireland

Textual Amendments

F2Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(i)

F3Words in Art. 68(1) 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(27)(a)(i)

F4Words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5Words in Art. 68(1) 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(27)(a)(i)

F6Words in Art. 68(1) 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(27)(a)(ii); and words in Art. 68(1) 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(27)(a)(ii)

F7Words in Art. 68(1) 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(27)(a)(ii)

F8Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(ii); and words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(i); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(ii); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11Word in Art. 68(4) substituted (W.) (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to direct payments) by 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(27)(b); and word in Art. 68(4) substituted (W.) (26.3.2021 in so far as it relates to domestic support for rural development) by The Agricultural Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/400), regs. 1(2), 4(27)(b)

F12Words in Art. 68(5) 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(43)(c); and words in Art. 68(5) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Article 68SMinimum control rate

1.[F13The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving direct payments and the other beneficiaries referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, [F14as amended for the purpose of agricultural support].][F15The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving annual premia referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the other beneficiaries receiving direct payment support.][F16For the purposes of on-the-spot checks in respect of claim year 2021, this sub-paragraph applies as if for “1%” there were substituted “0.5%]

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of groups of persons as referred to in Articles 28 and 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 each individual member of those groups may be considered as beneficiary for the purpose of calculating the control sample as specified in the first subparagraph.

[F17For the purposes of on-the-spot checks in respect of [F18claim years 2020 and 2021], the first sub-paragraph applies as if for “1%” there were substituted “0.5%.]

The minimum control rate referred to in the first subparagraph may be reached at the level of each competent control authority or at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards. Where the checks are not carried out by the paying agency, this minimum control rate may however be reached at the level of each paying agency.

Where the legislation applicable to the act and standards already fixes a minimum control rate, that rate shall be applied instead of the minimum rate referred to in the first subparagraph. Alternatively, [F19the relevant authority] may decide that any instances of non-compliance detected in the course of any on-the-spot checks under the legislation applicable to the acts and standards which are carried out outside the sample referred to in the first subparagraph, shall be reported to, and followed up by, the competent control authority in charge of the act or standard concerned. The provisions of this Chapter and Chapters I, II and III of Title III shall apply. [F20This sub-paragraph does not apply in respect of claim years 2021 and 2022.]

As regards the cross-compliance obligations in relation to Directive 96/22/EC, the application of a specific sampling level of monitoring plans shall be considered to fulfil the requirement of the minimum rate mentioned in the first subparagraph.

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in order to reach the minimum control rate referred to in that paragraph at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards, the [F21relevant authority] may:

(a)

use the results of on-the-spot checks carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards for the selected beneficiaries; or

(b)

replace selected beneficiaries by beneficiaries subject to an on-the-spot check carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards, provided that those beneficiaries are beneficiaries as referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

In such cases the on-the-spot checks shall cover all aspects of the relevant acts or standards as defined under cross-compliance. Furthermore the [F22relevant authority] shall ensure that the effectiveness of those on-the-spot checks is at least equal to that achieved when the on-the-spot checks are carried out by competent control authorities.

3.When establishing the minimum control rate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the required actions as referred to in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, shall not be taken into account.

F234.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.When a [F24relevant authority] decides to make use of the option provided for in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the actions necessary to verify that the beneficiaries have remedied the situation of non-compliance concerned shall apply on a sample of 20 % of those beneficiaries.

Extent Information

E3This version of this provision applies to Scotland only; separate versions have been created for England and Wales and Northern Ireland

Textual Amendments

F13Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(i)

F14Words in Art. 68(1) substituted (S.) (1.1.2021 in so far as it relates to direct payments) by The Direct Payments to Farmers (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/460), regs. 1(2), 5(7)

F15Words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F19Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(ii); and words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F21Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(i); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F22Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(ii); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F24Words in Art. 68(5) 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(43)(c); and words in Art. 68(5) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 68N.I.Minimum control rate

1.[F25The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving direct payments and the other beneficiaries referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, [F26as amended for the purpose of agricultural support].][F27The competent control authority shall, with regard to the requirements and standards for which it is responsible, carry out on-the-spot checks on at least 1% of the total number of the beneficiaries receiving annual premia referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the other beneficiaries receiving direct payment support.]

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of groups of persons as referred to in Articles 28 and 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 each individual member of those groups may be considered as beneficiary for the purpose of calculating the control sample as specified in the first subparagraph.

[F28For the purposes of checks in respect of claim year 2020, the first subparagraph applies as if for “1%” there were substituted “0.5%”.]

The minimum control rate referred to in the first subparagraph may be reached at the level of each competent control authority or at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards. Where the checks are not carried out by the paying agency, this minimum control rate may however be reached at the level of each paying agency.

Where the legislation applicable to the act and standards already fixes a minimum control rate, that rate shall be applied instead of the minimum rate referred to in the first subparagraph. Alternatively, [F29the relevant authority] may decide that any instances of non-compliance detected in the course of any on-the-spot checks under the legislation applicable to the acts and standards which are carried out outside the sample referred to in the first subparagraph, shall be reported to, and followed up by, the competent control authority in charge of the act or standard concerned. The provisions of this Chapter and Chapters I, II and III of Title III shall apply.

As regards the cross-compliance obligations in relation to Directive 96/22/EC, the application of a specific sampling level of monitoring plans shall be considered to fulfil the requirement of the minimum rate mentioned in the first subparagraph.

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in order to reach the minimum control rate referred to in that paragraph at the level of each act or standard or group of acts or standards, the [F30relevant authority] may:

(a)

use the results of on-the-spot checks carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards for the selected beneficiaries; or

(b)

replace selected beneficiaries by beneficiaries subject to an on-the-spot check carried out pursuant to the legislation applicable to those acts and standards, provided that those beneficiaries are beneficiaries as referred to in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

In such cases the on-the-spot checks shall cover all aspects of the relevant acts or standards as defined under cross-compliance. Furthermore the [F31relevant authority] shall ensure that the effectiveness of those on-the-spot checks is at least equal to that achieved when the on-the-spot checks are carried out by competent control authorities.

3.When establishing the minimum control rate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the required actions as referred to in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, shall not be taken into account.

[F324.Should on-the-spot checks reveal a significant degree of non-compliance with a given act or standard, the number of on-the-spot checks to be carried out for that act or standard in the following control period shall be increased. Within a specific act the competent control authority may decide to limit the scope of those further on-the-spot checks to the most frequently infringed requirements.]

5.When a [F33relevant authority] decides to make use of the option provided for in Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the actions necessary to verify that the beneficiaries have remedied the situation of non-compliance concerned shall apply on a sample of 20 % of those beneficiaries.

Extent Information

E4This version of this provision applies to Northern Ireland only; separate versions have been created for England and Wales and Scotland

Textual Amendments

F25Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(i)

F26Words in Art. 68(1) substituted (N.I. in so far as it relates to direct payments) (23.2.2021) by The Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/40), regs. 1(1), 6(9)

F27Words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F29Words in Art. 68(1) 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(43)(a)(ii); and words in Art. 68(1) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(a)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1445, regs. 1(2)(b), 8(32)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F30Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(i); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F31Words in Art. 68(2) 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(43)(b)(ii); and words in Art. 68(2) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F33Words in Art. 68(5) 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(43)(c); and words in Art. 68(5) substituted (31.12.2020 in so far as it relates to common organisation of the markets and rural development measures) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Financing, Management and Monitoring Supplementary Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/765), regs. 1, 5(54)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2Art. 68 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (15.7.2021 with effect for claim year 2021) by The Direct Payments to Farmers (Controls and Checks) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/181), regs. 1(1), 2