1.Assistance referred to in Article 171(2)(a) shall be granted for tangible or intangible investments in agricultural holdings to upgrade them to Community standards and to improve their overall performance.
2.Assistance under this measure may be granted to agricultural holdings:
(a)for which a prospect of economic viability at the end of the realisation of the investment can be demonstrated;
(b)which comply with national minimum standards regarding environmental protection, public health, animal and plant health, animal welfare and occupational safety at the time when the decision to grant support is taken.
3.By derogation from point (b) of paragraph 2, where national minimum standards based on Community standards have been newly introduced at the time the application is received, assistance may be granted regardless of non-compliance with those standard on the condition that the holding shall meet the new standards by the end of the realisation of the investment.
Furthermore, the Commission may, on the basis of duly substantiated request from the beneficiary country, allow derogation from point (b) of paragraph 2 in respect of non-compliance with national minimum standards based on Community standards introduced in the national law up to one year prior to date of submission of the application.
4.Assistance shall be granted on the condition that the investments comply with the relevant Community standards at the end of their realisation.
5.Beneficiary countries shall set limits for the total investment eligible for assistance. They shall lay down appropriate standards regarding farmers' occupational skill and competence which the farmers shall be required to comply with in order to be eligible for assistance.