In respect of geographical indications and designations of origin relating to a geographical area within the Community, verification of compliance with the specifications, before placing the product on the market, shall be ensured by:

• one or more competent authorities referred to in Article 10 and/or

• one or more control bodies within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 operating as a product certification body.

The costs of such verification of compliance with the specifications shall be borne by the operators subject to those controls.

In respect of the geographical indications and designations of origin relating to a geographical area in a third country, verification of compliance with the specifications, before placing the product on the market, shall be ensured by:

• one or more public authorities designated by the third country and/or

• one or more product certification bodies.

The product certification bodies referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall comply with and, from 1 May 2010 be accredited in accordance with European standard EN 45011 or ISO/IEC Guide 65 (General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems).

Where, the authorities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, have chosen to verify compliance with the specifications, they shall offer adequate guarantees of objectivity and impartiality, and have at their disposal the qualified staff and resources necessary to carry out their functions.