Commission Regulation (EC) No 566/2008Show full title

Article 6 U.K. Official checks

1. The official checks referred to in point VII of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall also include the supervision of the classification of bovine animals at the slaughterhouse referred to in point II of Annex XIa to that Regulation.

2. A competent authority may delegate, totally or partially, its check tasks to one or more independent third-party bodies only where there is a proof that the body:

(a) has a sufficient number of adequately qualified and experienced staff; and

(b) is impartial and free from any conflict of interest as regards the exercise of the tasks delegated to it.

In particular, the competent authority may delegate its check tasks only where such independent third-party bodies are accredited to comply with the most recent notified version of European Standard EN 45011 or ISO Guide 65 (General requirements for bodies operating products certification systems), published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.

3. A competent authority wishing to delegate its check tasks to one or more independent third-party bodies shall notify the Commission thereof. The notification shall indicate:

(a) the competent authority that intends to delegate its check tasks; and

(b) one or more independent third-party bodies to which it would delegate these check tasks.

The Commission shall transmit to the Member States the notifications referred to in the first subparagraph.

4. The independent third-party body performing check tasks shall:

(a) communicate the results of the checks carried out to the competent authority on a regular basis and whenever the competent authority so requests. If the results of the checks indicate non-compliance, the independent third-party body shall immediately inform the competent authority thereof;

(b) give the competent authority access to its offices and facilities and provide any information and assistance deemed necessary by the competent authority for the fulfilment of their obligations.

5. A competent authority delegating check tasks to an independent third-party body, shall, on a regular basis, supervise that body.

If, as a result of that supervision, it appears that such body has failed to properly carry out the check tasks delegated to it, the delegating competent authority may withdraw the delegation.

The competent authority shall withdraw the delegation without delay if the independent third-party body fails to take timely and appropriate remedial action.

6. At each stage of production and marketing, operators shall at all times grant access to their premises and to all records which prove the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 to the experts of the Commission, the competent authority and the relevant independent third-party bodies.