The applicant submitted 56.82 hectares on his 1999 area aid application. Following processing of his application an area of 52.41 hectares was determined. This represents a difference of 4.41 hectares or 8.42 per cent between the area claimed and that determined. Under article 9 of EU Regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3 per cent, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3 per cent and 20 per cent and when the difference is over 20 per cent, a 100 per cent penalty must be applied. Therefore in this case a penalty of 8.82 hectares has to be applied leaving the area determined at 43.59 hectares. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.