Article 43Format for exchange of information between Member States
1.Information referred to in this Section shall be exchanged between Member States using the format defined in Annex XII from which extensible mark-up language (XML) shall be derived. The XML standard to be used for all electronic data exchanges between Member States, and between Member States, the Commission and the body designated by it, shall be decided by the Commission after consultation with Member States.
2.Amendments to the format referred to in paragraph 1 shall be clearly identified and marked with the date it was updated. Such amendments shall not come into effect earlier than 6 months after they have been decided.
3.When a Member State receives electronic information from another Member State it shall ensure that a return message is issued to the competent authorities of that Member State. The return message shall contain an acknowledgement of receipt.
4.Data elements in Annex XII that are mandatory for masters to record in their fishing logbook according to EU rules shall also be mandatory in exchanges between Member States.