Article 20

Before 1 January of each marketing year, producer organisations or, where appropriate, associations thereof shall submit their members' crop declarations and any amendments thereto to the competent agency of the Member State concerned. However, in order to improve the effectiveness of controls in certain regions, the Member States may extend the deadline for the submission of declarations by a maximum of three months.

The Member States shall communicate to the Commission, before 1 January of the marketing year concerned, the regions and the reasons for which the deadline for the submission of crop declarations has been extended, and the new date laid down.

Producer organisations or, where appropriate, associations thereof shall submit the aid applications for the marketing year in progress to the competent agency of the Member State concerned before 1 August of each marketing year. However, aid applications lodged late by olive growers may be submitted by the organisation or association by 14 August of each marketing year.

After conducting the checks provided for in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2261/84, producer organisations shall forward their members' applications for advances to the competent agency of the Member State concerned.