TITLE IIPRODUCER ORGANISATIONS

CHAPTER IIOperational funds and operational programmes

Section 3Operational programmes

Article 34Amendments to operational programmes

1.

Producer organisations may request amendments to operational programmes, including their duration, for subsequent years. F1The appropriate authority shall set deadlines for the submission and approval of such requests so that the approved amendments apply as from 1 January of the following year.

For duly justified reasons, such requests may be approved after the deadlines set by F2the appropriate authority, but no later than 20 January following the year of the request. The approval decision may provide that expenditure is eligible from 1 January following the year of the request.

2.

F3The appropriate authority may authorise amendments to operational programmes during the year, under conditions to be determined by F4the appropriate authority. The decisions on those amendments shall be taken by 20 January of the year following the year on which amendments are requested.

Producer organisations may be authorised by F5the appropriate authority, during the year to:

(a)

implement their operational programmes in part only;

(b)

change the content of the operational programmes;

(c)

increase the amount of the operational fund by a maximum of 25 %, and decrease it by a F6maximum of 25%, of the amount initially approved, provided that the overall objectives of the operational programme are maintained;

(d)

add F7additional financial assistance to the operational fund in case of application of Article 53.

F8The appropriate authority shall determine the conditions under which operational programmes may be amended during the year without prior approval by F9that appropriate authority F10... Those amendments shall only be eligible for aid if they are notified by the producer organisation to F9that appropriate authority without delay.

F11The appropriate authority may modify the percentages referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph in case of mergers of producer organisations as referred to in Article 15(1).

3.

Requests for amendments shall be accompanied by supporting documents giving the reason, nature and implications of the changes.