Article 23U.K.Reference period and ceiling on Union financial assistance
1.Member States shall determine for each producer organisation a 12-month reference period, starting no earlier than 1 January of the year that is three years prior to the year for which the aid is requested and ending no later than 31 December of the year preceding the year for which the aid is requested.
The 12-month reference period shall be the accounting period of the producer organisation concerned.
The methodology for fixing the reference period shall not vary during an operational programme except in duly justified situations.
2.The ceiling on Union financial assistance referred to in Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be calculated each year on the basis of the value of the marketed production during the reference period of the producers who are members of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations on 1 January of the year for which the aid is requested.
3.As an alternative to the method set out in paragraph 2, for non-transnational producer organisations or associations of producer organisations, Member States may decide to use the actual value of the marketed production in the reference period concerned of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations in question. In that case, the rule shall apply to all non-transnational producer organisations and associations of producer organisations in that Member State.
4.Where a reduction of at least 35 % in the value of a product has occurred due to reasons falling outside the responsibility and control of the producer organisation, the value of marketed production of that product shall be deemed to represent 65 % of its value in the previous reference period.
The producer organisation shall justify the reasons referred to in the first subparagraph to the competent authority of the Member State concerned.
This paragraph shall also apply for the purpose of determining compliance with the minimum value of marketed production as provided for in Article 9.
5.Where historical data on marketed production for newly recognised producer organisations is insufficient for the purpose of the application of paragraph 1, the value of marketed production shall be the value of marketable production provided by the producer organisation for the purposes of recognition.