Article 33 Reduction in aid in the event of discrepancies between the aid applied for and the amount due

Where it is ascertained, for a given product, that the aid applied for in respect of any marketing year exceeds the amount due, then that amount shall be reduced, unless the difference is clearly due to error. The reduction shall be equal to the difference. If the aid has already been paid, the beneficiary shall pay back double the difference, plus interest calculated in accordance with Article 35a(2).

If the difference referred to in paragraph 1 is more than 20 %, the beneficiary shall lose entitlement to the aid and, if the aid has already been paid, reimburse the total aid, plus interest calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.

If the difference is more than 30 %, the producer organisation or processor shall also forfeit any entitlement to aid for the product concerned for the following three marketing years.

Amounts recovered and interest under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be paid to the competent paying agency and deducted from expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.