Paying agencies shall take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the requirements relating to public intervention and the granting of aid for private storage laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, this Regulation F2, and the tendering procedures and the Regulations referred to in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) of this Regulation.

The measures shall include full administrative checking of offers and tenders for public intervention and tenders and applications for aid for private storage, which shall be supplemented by on-the-spot documentary and physical checks as specified in this Title.

The verification of the weight of products delivered to public intervention and, in the case of aid for private storage, of the contractual quantity shall be conducted in the presence of the officials of the paying agency.

Physical samples taken for the purposes of verifying the quality and composition of products for public intervention and aid for private storage shall be taken by the officials of the paying agency or in their presence.

For the purposes of the audit trail, all stock and financial records and documents checked by the paying agency shall be stamped or initialled during the control visit. Where computer records are verified, a record of the check undertaken shall be included in the inspection file, either in paper or in electronic form. Such records shall be made available to the F3appropriate authority on request.

This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.

This Article ceases to apply in relation to public intervention schemes in Scotland, otherwise than in connection with public intervention measures which the appropriate authority takes under Article 219(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, for a period of five years beginning on 1 July 2023.

Without prejudice to the checks required by this Regulation for the takeover of products, the checks of the intervention stocks shall be carried out in accordance with Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014.

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For beef, the checks shall be carried out in accordance with Parts I and III of Annex III.

This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.

This Article ceases to apply in relation to public intervention schemes in Scotland, otherwise than in connection with public intervention measures which the appropriate authority takes under Article 219(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, for a period of five years beginning on 1 July 2023.

Notwithstanding Article 56(2), the quantity delivered shall be weighed in the presence of the operator and a representative of the paying agency who is independent from the operator.

However, if the representative of the paying agency is also the storekeeper, the paying agency shall, within 30 days of the date of delivery, conduct an inspection involving at least a volumetric check. Any difference between the quantity determined by weighing and the quantity estimated in accordance with the volumetric method shall not exceed 5 %.

Where the 5 % tolerance is not exceeded, the storekeeper shall bear all costs relating to any difference observed, at a later weight check, from the weight entered in the accounts on takeover.

Where the 5 % tolerance is exceeded, the cereals or rice shall be weighed forthwith. Where the weight determined is less than that recorded, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the storekeeper. Otherwise, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the paying agency.

Where the level of contaminants in cereals is to be checked on the basis of the risk analysis referred to in point 3 of Part I of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, the paying agency shall be liable for the financial consequences of any failure to comply with the maximum contaminant levels in accordance with the rules set out in Article 3(6) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014.

F5...

This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.

This Article ceases to apply in relation to public intervention schemes in Scotland, otherwise than in connection with public intervention measures which the appropriate authority takes under Article 219(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, for a period of five years beginning on 1 July 2023.

If paragraph 1 applies, the weight to be recorded in the store register and financial accounts provided for in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 3(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014 shall be that entered in the store register and adjusted, where appropriate, to take account of any difference between the moisture content or the percentage of miscellaneous impurities (Schwarzbesatz) recorded at the moment of weighing and those determined on the basis of the representative sample. A difference between the percentages of miscellaneous impurities may only be taken into account to reduce the weight entered in the store register.

Within 30 days of takeover the paying agency shall make a volumetric check. Any difference between the quantity determined by weighing and the quantity estimated in accordance with the volumetric method shall not exceed 5 %.

Where the 5 % tolerance is not exceeded, the storekeeper shall bear all costs relating to any difference observed, at a later weight check, from the weight entered in the accounts on takeover.

Where the 5 % tolerance is exceeded, the cereals or rice shall be weighed forthwith. Where the weight determined is less than that recorded, account being taken of the tolerance limits provided for in point 1 of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the storekeeper. Otherwise, the costs of weighing shall be borne by the F7appropriate authority.

This Article does not apply in relation to public intervention schemes in England, otherwise than in connection with exceptional market conditions which are the subject of a declaration under section 20 of the Agriculture Act 2020.

This Article ceases to apply in relation to public intervention schemes in Scotland, otherwise than in connection with public intervention measures which the appropriate authority takes under Article 219(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, for a period of five years beginning on 1 July 2023.

For all the lots put into storage, the paying agency shall undertake on-the-spot documentary checks within 30 days of the start of the contractual storage period referred to in Article 48(1) in order to verify the contractual quantity referred to in Article 49. Such checks shall include an examination of the store register referred to in Article 52(5) and of supporting documents, such as weigh tickets and delivery dockets, as well as physical verification of the presence of the lots and the identity of the products in the place of private storage.

In the case of meat, the checks shall take place at the time of placing into private storage, and for olive oil, prior to the official sealing of the vats.

In duly justified circumstances, the paying agency may extend the period referred to in the first subparagraph by up to 15 days. In such cases, the paying agency shall inform the affected operators.

In addition to the checks required under paragraph 1, a representative statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities placed in storage shall be physically checked to ensure that the quantity, nature and composition, packaging and marking of the products and storage lots conform to the requirements for private storage and to the particulars specified by the operator in their tender or application.

In the case of cheese, physical checks shall be undertaken on all lots in order to verify the contractual quantity.

In relation to England, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is to be read as if for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.

In relation to Scotland, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is to be read as if for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.

During the storage period, the paying agency shall also undertake unannounced on-the-spot checks to ensure the presence and identity of the contractual quantity in the place of private storage, and that sugar stored in bulk is present in the silo designated by the operator. The check shall be undertaken on the basis of a random statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded. This sample shall not include more than 25 % of lots already checked in accordance with paragraph 2, unless it would not be possible to conduct the on-the-spot check of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded.

The unannounced check referred in the first subparagraph shall not be necessary where the paying agency, with the agreement of the operator, has sealed the products in such a way that the contractual quantities cannot be removed from the place of storage without breaking seal.

Paragraph 3 does not apply in relation to England.

Paragraph 3 does not apply in relation to Scotland.

At the end of the contractual storage period, or before the start of the removal of products where Article 53(3) applies, the paying agency shall undertake on-the-spot checks to verify that the contractual commitment has been met based on a documentary check of the store register and supporting documents, as well as a verification of the presence of the lots and the identity of the products in the place of private storage.

In addition to the checks referred to in the first subparagraph, a representative statistical sample of at least 5 % of the lots covering at least 5 % of the total quantities for which contracts have been concluded shall be physically checked to verify the quantity, type, packaging and marking and identity of the products in the place of private storage.

In relation to England, the second subparagraph of paragraph 4 is to be read as if, for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.

In relation to Scotland, the second subparagraph of paragraph 4 is to be read as if, for “5%”, in both places it appears, there were substituted “10%”.

Where the paying agency, with the agreement of the operator, has sealed the products in such a way that the stored quantity cannot be removed from the individual lot without breaking seal, the checks referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may be limited to verifying the presence and integrity of the seals.

In relation to England, paragraph 5 is to be read as if for “paragraphs 3 and” there were substituted “paragraph”.

In relation to Scotland, paragraph 5 is to be read as if for “paragraphs 3 and” there were substituted “paragraph”.

The eligibility of butter, skimmed milk powder and cheese to receive aid for private storage shall be established in accordance with the methods laid down in Annexes VI, VII and VIII respectively.

Those methods shall be established by reference to the latest versions of the relevant F8domestic or international standards, as the case may be, in force at least 6 months before the first day of the public intervention period as defined in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

The results of the checks conducted by applying the methods set out in this Regulation shall be evaluated in accordance with Annex IX.

In case of non-compliance of products subject to the check, the verification shall be extended to a larger statistical sample to be determined by the paying agency.

The paying agency shall record any cases of non-compliance on the basis of the criteria of gravity, extent, duration and repetition that may result in exclusion in accordance with Article 62(1), or in the repayment of unduly paid, aid for private storage, including interest where applicable, in accordance with Article 62(4).

Where the paying agency finds that a document presented by an operator, which is required under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1238, this Regulation F9, or a published tendering procedure or the Regulations referred to in Article 1(2)(b) of this Regulation, provides incorrect information, and where the incorrect information concerned is decisive for the granting of aid for private storage, the paying agency shall exclude the operator from the procedure of granting aid for the product for which the incorrect information has been given for a period of one year from the date of adoption of a final administrative decision establishing the irregularity.

The exclusion provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply if the operator proves, to the satisfaction of the paying agency, that the situation referred to in that paragraph is due to force majeure or obvious error.

Unduly paid aid shall be recovered, with interest, from the operators concerned. The rules laid down in Article 27 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

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