Article 25

The area of agricultural parcels and the number of olive trees in the graphical reference base shall be determined by any suitable means as defined by the competent body, in particular by photo-interpretation of recent, very high resolution aerial or satellite photographs. However, on-the-spot inspections must be conducted where clear results cannot be obtained by photo-interpretation.

Scattered olive trees shall be identified, and their location plotted approximately.

The Member States, shall lay down technical tolerances regarding the accuracy of area measurements and tree counting, taking account of official documents available and the local situation.

Numbers of olive trees in each as determined by reference to the graphical reference database shall be compared with the information in crop declarations included in the alphanumerical database.

Where the declared number of olive trees on the holding differs by more than 3 % from the number determined in accordance with paragraph 1, the crop declaration shall be deemed to contain a discrepancy.

The olive growers concerned shall be notified where their declarations contain discrepancies. The growers concerned shall be granted a period of grace of up to three months, at the Member State's discretion, in which to provide justifications for the discrepancy or, when first informed thereof, to amend their declarations.

At the grower's request, where the justifications provided are insufficient for the Member State to accept the declared data, amended where applicable, a check shall be carried out in the presence of both parties, the cost of which is to be borne by the grower should the declared data, whether or not amended pursuant to the first subparagraph, not be confirmed.

The number of olive trees determined for each parcel shall correspond:

• to the data from the declaration, where applicable as amended pursuant to paragraph 3, where no discrepancies are found or where any discrepancies are smaller than those determined in accordance with paragraph 1,

• to the data determined in accordance with paragraph 1, where the olive grower has failed to reply within the period of grace allowed on notification of a discrepancy,

• to the data recorded after the check provided for in the second subparagraph of paragraph 3, in other cases.

The areas calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 and the numbers of olive trees determined for each parcel, and the totals per holding, shall be recorded in the alphanumerical database.