The level of support for meeting standards based on Community legislation referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 shall be modulated by the Member States per standard with regard to the level of obligations resulting from the application of the standard. Payment shall be phased out over the maximum period of five years referred to in paragraph 2 of that Article.

Costs related to investments shall not be taken into account when determining the level of annual support for meeting standards based on Community legislation referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005.