1.When a beneficiary increases the area of the holding during the period for which a commitment given as a condition for the grant of assistance runs, Member States may provide for the commitment to be extended to cover the additional area for the remainder of the period of the commitment in accordance with paragraph 2, or for the original commitment to be replaced by a new one in accordance with paragraph 3.
Provision may also be made for such replacement in cases where the area covered by a commitment within a holding is extended.
2.The extension referred to in paragraph 1 may be granted only under the following conditions:
(a)it is of benefit to the measure concerned;
(b)it is justified in terms of the nature of the commitment, the length of the remaining period and the size of the additional area;
(c)it does not impede the effectiveness of checks to ensure compliance with the conditions for the grant of assistance.
3.The new commitment referred to in paragraph 1 shall cover the whole area concerned under terms at least as strict as those of the original commitment.
4.Where a beneficiary is unable to continue to comply with commitments given because the holding is reparcelled or is the subject of public land-consolidation measures or of land-consolidation measures approved by the competent public authorities, Member States shall take the measures necessary to allow the commitments to be adapted to the new situation of the holding. If such adaptation proves impossible, the commitment shall expire and reimbursement shall not be required in respect of the period in which the commitment was effective.