Identification system for agricultural parcels
Article 2
1. The identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in Article 68 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 shall operate at reference parcel level and include information allowing the exchange of data with the geo-spatial aid application referred to in Article 69 of that Regulation and the area monitoring system referred to in Article 70 of that Regulation. 2. For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘reference parcel’ means a geographically delimited area retaining a unique identification as registered in the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in Article 68 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116. A reference parcel shall contain a unit of land representing agricultural area, as referred to in Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. Where appropriate, a reference parcel shall also contain non-agricultural areas considered eligible by Member States for receiving the support for area-based interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116. 3. The reference parcels shall serve as basis to support beneficiaries in submitting geo-spatial applications for area-based interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116. 4. Member States shall delimit the reference parcels in such a way as to ensure that each parcel is stable in time, measurable, enables the unique and unambiguous localisation of each agricultural parcel and unit of land of non-agricultural areas considered eligible by the Member States for receiving the support for the area-based interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 declared annually. 5. Member States shall ensure the update of information for all reference parcels in the identification system at least once every 3 years. In addition, Member States shall each year take into account all information available from the geo-spatial application, the area monitoring system or any other reliable source. 6. Member States shall ensure that the identification system for agricultural parcels contains the necessary information to extract data relevant for the correct reporting on indicators referred to in Article 66(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116. 7. In the identification system, for each reference parcel Member States shall at least: (a) determine a maximum eligible area for the purpose of the area-based interventions under the integrated system. In order to determine the maximum eligible area Member States shall deduct ineligible elements from the parcel by delineation, where possible. Member States shall define beforehand the criteria and procedures used to assess, quantify and where appropriate delineate the eligible and ineligible parts of the parcel. In determining the maximum eligible area, Member States may set a reasonable margin for correct quantification, to take account of the outline and condition of the parcel; (b) identify the agricultural area, as referred to in Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. Where applicable, Member States shall ensure the distinction of agricultural area in arable land, permanent crops and permanent grassland, including when they form agroforestry systems on that area, as determined in accordance with Article 4(3) of that Regulation by delineation; (c) as regards permanent grassland with scattered ineligible features and when Member States decide to apply a fixed reduction coefficients to determine the area considered eligible, as provided for in Article 4(4), point (b), third subparagraph of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, register all relevant information; (d) include features and/or commitments that are relevant for the eligibility of area-based interventions and for conditionality requirements, and are stable in time. This information shall be recorded as attributes or layers in the identification system for agricultural parcels and at least the following shall be indicated: (i) the location of peatland or wetland area, where relevant, in accordance with GAEC standard 2 listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115; (ii) the type and location of landscape features on the parcel relevant for conditionality or interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116; (e) where applicable, locate and determine the size of the landscape features under GAEC standard 8 listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 relevant for the minimum share of agricultural area devoted to non-productive areas or features. (f) determine whether parcels are located in areas facing natural or other area-specific constraints as referred to in Article 71 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, or whether area-specific disadvantages resulting from certain mandatory requirements apply as referred to in Article 72 of that Regulation, (g) determine whether parcels are located in Natura 2000 areas, in areas covered by Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 6 ) , whether they are located on agricultural land authorised for cotton production pursuant to Article 37(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, on areas forming part of established local practices referred to in Article 4(3), point (c), second subparagraph, point (i), of that Regulation, on areas covered with permanent grasslands designated as environmentally sensitive pursuant to GAEC standard 9 listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, or in areas covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC ( 7 ) or Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 8 ) . 8. For forestry related interventions supported under Articles 70 and 72 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, Member States may establish appropriate alternative systems to uniquely identify the land subject to support where that land is covered by forest. 9. The geographic information system shall operate on the basis of a national coordinate reference system as defined in Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 9 ) which permits standardised measurement and unique identification of agricultural parcels throughout the Member State concerned. Where different coordinate reference systems are used, they shall be mutually exclusive and each of them shall ensure the consistency between items of information which refer to the same location.