Where an examination in accordance with Article 503 is initiated, the case shall be sent to the Commission. It shall contain the results of the examination already undertaken.

The Commission shall send an acknowledgement of receipt or notify the customs authorities concerned when acting on its own initiative. It shall determine in consultation with them whether an examination of the economic conditions in the Committee is required.

Where the case is submitted to the Committee, the customs authorities shall inform the applicant, or holder, that such a procedure has been initiated and, if the handling of the application is not completed, that the time limits laid down in Article 506 have been suspended.

The Committee's conclusion shall be taken into account by the customs authorities concerned and by any other customs authorities dealing with similar authorisations or applications.

This conclusion may include its publication in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities .