): The person concerned submitted a ten month special beef premium application in respect of eight animals on 8 May 1997. Two animals were subsequently deleted from the application due to ineligibility on age grounds leaving six eligible animals.
An advance notification of an on-farm inspection scheduled for 27 June 1997 issued to the person concerned. The animals in question were not presented for inspection as required by both the EU regulations and our national terms and conditions governing the scheme. The herdowner was written to a second time and again given the opportunity to present the animals for inspection. Once again the animals were not presented. The terms and conditions state that "if an on-farm inspection cannot be made through the fault of the producer, the entire application shall be rejected". Following an appeal the case was reviewed locally and the original decision was upheld.
The special beef premium scheme is fully financed by the EU and governed by the relevant EU regulations. An opportunity to have this case independently reviewed by the headage and premia appeals unit was offered to the person concerned. However this opportunity has not been availed of to date.