The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances outlined in the appeal, the independent single payment appeals committee made a recommendation and a letter issued to the person named on 29 September 2004. The appeals committee found that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld.
My Department has re-examined the circumstances of this case, taking account of the additional medical evidence submitted and has decided that the reference year 2000 will be excluded from the calculation of the single farm payment entitlements for the person named and the entitlements will be based on the reference years 2001 and 2002 only. A statement of provisional entitlements reflecting this position will issue shortly to the person named.