Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 20 Data protection

1. The scientific data and other information in the application dossier required under Article 7 may not be used for the benefit of another applicant for a period of 10 years from the date of authorisation, unless the other applicant has agreed with the previous applicant that such data and information may be used.

2. In order to stimulate efforts to obtain authorisations for minor species for additives whose use is authorised for other species, the 10-year data protection period shall be extended by one year for each minor species for which a use extension authorisation is granted.

3. The applicant and the previous applicant shall take all necessary steps to reach agreement on sharing the use of information, in order not to repeat toxicological tests on vertebrates. If, however, no such agreement is reached on sharing the information, the Commission may decide to disclose information necessary to avoid repeating toxicological tests on vertebrates, while ensuring a reasonable balance between the interests of the parties concerned.

4. On the expiry of the 10-year period, the findings of all or part of the evaluation conducted on the basis of the scientific data and information contained in the application dossier may be used by the Authority for the benefit of another applicant.