TITLE IIGENERAL PROVISIONS ON DIRECT PAYMENTS
CHAPTER 3Farm advisory system
Article 12Farm advisory system
1.
Member States shall operate a system of advising farmers on land and farm management (hereinafter referred to as the ‘farm advisory system’) operated by one or more designated authorities or by private bodies.
2.
The farm advisory system shall cover at least the statutory management requirements and the good agricultural and environmental condition referred to in Chapter 1.
3.
Farmers may participate in the farm advisory system on a voluntary basis.
Member States may determine, in accordance with objective criteria, the priority categories of farmer that have access to the farm advisory system.
4.
By 31 December 2010, the Commission shall submit a report to the Council on the application of the farm advisory system, accompanied, if necessary, by appropriate proposals.
Article 13Obligations of designated authorities and private bodies
Without prejudice to national legislation concerning public access to documents, Member States shall ensure that the designated authorities and private bodies referred to in Article 12(1) do not disclose personal or individual information and data they obtain in their advisory activity to persons other than the farmer managing the holding concerned, with the exception of any irregularity or infringement found during their activity which is covered by an obligation laid down in Community or national law to inform a public authority, in particular in the case of criminal offences.