L 228/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 24.8.2002 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1517/2002 of 23 August 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands, as regards the cultivation of certain agricultural products, potatoes for human consumption and seed potatoes THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 of 19 July 1993 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean Islands concerning certain agricultural products (!), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 442/2002 (3, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 states that aid per hectare is to be granted for the cultivation of pota- toes for human consumption and seed potatoes up to a maximum area cultivated and harvested of 2200 hectares per year. Rules for the application of these arrangements were adopted by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3404/93 (°) laying down rules for the applica- tion of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93. Some technical adjustments should be made to these provisions, in parti- cular as regards the control procedures and the penalties for failure to comply with these provisions and, in the interests of clarity and administrative efficiency, these implementing rules should be replaced in full. (2)  Before the aid provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 can be granted, applications for aid will have to be lodged by interested producers. A final date should be set for the lodging of applications so that the on-the-spot checks required to guarantee proper application of the rules can be carried out. This date should vary according to the purpose for which potatoes are cultivated. The length of the cultivation cycle of the potato dictates that three different final dates for lodging aid applications for this crop should be specified. (3) A system should be introduced to check that the imple- menting measures put in place by the Greek authorities have been properly carried out. These authorities should make periodic notifications to the Commission. (4)  Regulation (EEC) No 3404/93 should therefore be repealed. (5)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Hops, OJ L 184, 27.7.1993, p. 1. () OJL 68, 12.3.2002, p. 4. 0J L 310, 14.12.1993, p. 7. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. The aid provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 for the cultivation of potatoes for human consump- tion falling within CN codes 0701 90 50 and 0701 90 90 and of seed potatoes falling within CN code 0701 10 00 shall be paid on areas: (a) of a minimum size of 0,1 hectares; (b) sown and given all normal cultivation treatment; and (c) for which an aid application has been lodged as specified in Article 2 of this Regulation, the application serving as a declaration of area cultivated. The amount of the aid shall be EUR 603 per hectare. 2. Payment of the aid for seed potatoes shall also be condi- tional on certification of the harvested potatoes in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 66/403/EEC (*). If certi- fication is not obtained, the application is deemed to be an application for aid for the cultivation of potatoes for human consumption. 3. In cases where crops do not reach the harvesting stage, the Greek authorities may authorise continuing entitlement to aid where force majeure or a natural disaster substantially affects the area cultivated by the applicant. Cases of force majeure or natural disasters shall be notified to the competent Greek authority within ten working days of their occurrence. Proof shall be supplied within one month of that notification. Greece shall immediately notify the Commission of cases it recognises as being of force majeure or natural disaster such as to justify continuing entitlement to the aid. Article 2 1. Producers wishing to receive aid shall lodge an application with the Greek authority. 2. Applications shall be made during a period set by the Greek authority ending on: (a) 30 September of each year, for potatoes to be harvested between 1 November and 31 March of the following year; () 0] 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2320/66.