Commission Regulation (EC) No 1121/2009 (repealed)Show full title

CHAPTER 5 U.K. Area payment for nuts

Article 15 U.K. Conditions of payment of Community aid

1. Only agricultural parcels planted with nut trees and meeting the conditions provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article at the date to be fixed in accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 shall be eligible for the area payment provided for in Article 82 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009.

In the case of a parcel planted with different species of nut trees and when the aid is differentiated by species, eligibility shall be conditional on compliance for at least one of the species of nuts with the minimum number of trees per hectare laid down in paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. The number of nut trees per hectare may not be less than:

(i)

125 for hazelnuts;

(ii)

50 for almonds;

(iii)

50 for walnuts;

(iv)

50 for pistachios;

(v)

30 for locust beans.

However, Member States may fix a higher tree density on the basis of objective criteria and taking into account the specific characteristics of the production concerned.

3. In the cases referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, the level of the aid to be granted is the level corresponding to the species for which the eligibility conditions are met and for which the amount is highest.

Article 16 U.K. Eligibility conditions for national aid

Article 15 of this Regulation shall apply to the national aid provided for in Articles 86 and 120 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009.

Without prejudice to Article 86 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, a Member State may establish further eligibility criteria, provided that such criteria are consistent with the environmental, rural, social and economic objectives of the aid scheme and do not introduce discrimination between producers. Member States shall establish the necessary arrangements in order to control that those eligibility criteria are respected by farmers.

Article 17 U.K. Notifications

1. Member States shall notify to the Commission in any case before the date for lodging an application fixed by Member States in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 and at the latest:

(a) by 31 March, the higher density levels and the criteria referred to in Article 15(2) of this Regulation and the additional criteria referred to in Article 16 of this Regulation;

(b) by 15 May, where a Member State differentiates the aid in accordance with Article 82(2) of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, the level of the area payment per products and/or the modified national guaranteed area (the NGA).

2. Any modification of the information to be notified to the Commission pursuant to paragraph 1 shall apply from the following year and shall be notified by the Member State concerned to the Commission accompanied by the objective criteria justifying any such modification.