Satellite check
Satellite check
for IACS forms
SATELLITES will be used again this year to check IACS claims.
This year the technology will be used in 12 of the EUs 15 member states, with only Austria, Sweden and Luxembourg preferring to rely on farm spot-checks.
Remote sensing, using satellite images and aerial photography, is employed both to identify crops and to check area measurements. Satellites and aerial photography have been used by MAFF in the past five years as part of the EU effort to eradicate CAP fraud.
A MAFF official said that in past years, about 10% of IACS claims that were cross-checked against satellite data attracted penalties or had the claims cut. Discrepancies ranged from incorrect area measurements through to applicants claiming aid for crops grown on ineligible land. IACS forms must be submitted by May 15.n