Audit principles
Article 6
1. The certification audit shall be carried out in accordance with internationally accepted auditing standards. 2. The certification body shall prepare an audit strategy that sets the scope, timing and direction of the certification audit, the audit methods and the sampling methodology, while distinguishing types of intervention referred to in Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 from measures laid down in Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 229/2013, (EU) No 1308/2013 and (EU) No 1144/2014. An audit plan shall be developed in respect of each financial year audited based on the estimated audit risk. Upon request, the certification body shall provide the Commission with the audit strategy and the audit plan. 3. The reasonable level of audit assurance to be achieved from auditing shall be obtained as to the proper functioning of the governance systems, the correctness of the performance reporting, the true and fair view of the annual accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions as regards the measures laid down in Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 229/2013, (EU) No 1308/2013 and (EU) No 1144/2014, as well as for the crop-specific payment for cotton and support for early retirement under Title III, Chapter II, Section 3, Subsection 2, and Article 155(2), respectively, of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, for which reimbursement has been requested from the Commission. This shall be done through system audit and compliance testing as regards the functioning of governance system, completeness and accuracy testing and analytical procedures for the performance reporting system. As regards the audit of annual accounts substantive testing of expenditure shall be applied, including test of details. As regards the audit of the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions as referred to in the first subparagraph, the testing shall include verification on-the-spot. 4. The Commission shall establish guidelines, which contain, in particular: (a) further clarification and guidance in respect of the certification audit to be performed; (b) the determination of the reasonable level of audit assurance to be achieved from auditing.