Interruption of the payment deadline
Article 136
1. The deadline for a payment may be interrupted by the authorising officer by delegation as defined in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 ( 34 ) for a maximum period of 6 months if: (a) there are findings of non-compliance with CFP rules; or (b) the authorising officer by delegation has to carry out additional verifications following findings indicating that there are failures in the control system of a Member State and/or non-compliance with CFP rules of fishery and fishery-related activities. 2. The concerned Member State shall be informed in writing as referred to in Article 103(3) of the Control Regulation of the reasons for the interruption of the payment deadline. It shall be asked to communicate to the Commission within 1 month of receipt of that letter the remedial actions taken and/or information concerning the financial assistance granted to the fisheries related activities subject matter of the non-compliance as set out in Annex XXXI to this Regulation. 3. Where the Member State concerned does not respond to the Commission’s request within the period mentioned in paragraph 2, or where it provides an unsatisfactory response, the Commission may send a reminder allowing an additional period of maximum 15 days. 4. The interruption shall be ended where the Member State demonstrates in its reply that it has taken remedial actions to ensure compliance with CFP rules or that the findings indicating that there are failures in its control system and/or non-compliance with CFP rules of fishery and fishery-related activities were unfounded.