Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (c. 30)

ANNEX V U.K. Selection of the independent verifier and the design of schemes for independent verification pursuant to Article 17(3)

1. Member States shall require the operator or owner to ensure the following conditions are fulfilled with regard to the verifier’s independence from the operator and the owner: U.K.

(a)

the function does not require the independent verifier to consider any aspect of a safety and environmental critical element or any part of an installation or a well or a well design in which the verifier was previously involved prior to the verification activity or where his or her objectivity might be compromised;

(b)

the independent verifier is sufficiently independent of a management system which has, or has had, any responsibility for any aspect of a component covered by the scheme for independent verification or well examination so as to ensure objectivity in carrying out his or her functions under the scheme.

2. Member States shall require the operator or the owner to ensure that, in respect of the scheme for independent verification relating to an installation or a well, the following conditions are fulfilled: U.K.

(a)

the independent verifier has suitable technical competence, including where necessary, suitably qualified and experienced personnel in adequate numbers who fulfil the requirements of point 1 of this Annex;

(b)

tasks under the scheme for independent verification are appropriately allocated by the independent verifier to personnel qualified to undertake them;

(c)

suitable arrangements are in place for the flow of information between the operator or owner and the independent verifier;

(d)

the independent verifier is given suitable authority to be able to carry out the functions effectively.

3. Material changes shall be referred to the independent verifier for further verification in accordance with the scheme for independent verification, and the outcomes of such further verification shall be communicated to the competent authority, if requested. U.K.