Competent authorities shall establish procedures for food business operators to follow when applying for the approval of their establishments in accordance with Regulations (EC) No 852/2004 and (EC) No 853/2004.

Upon receipt of an application for approval from a food business operator, the competent authority shall make an on-site visit.

The competent authority shall approve an establishment for the activities concerned only if the food business operator has demonstrated that it complies with the relevant requirements of food law.

The competent authority may grant conditional approval if it appears that the establishment meets all the infrastructure and equipment requirements. It shall grant full approval only if it appears from a new official control of the establishment, carried out within three months of granting conditional approval, that the establishment meets the other relevant requirements of food law. If clear progress has been made but the establishment still does not meet all of the relevant requirements, the competent authority may prolong the conditional approval. However, conditional approval shall not exceed a total of six months, except in the case of factory and freezer vessels flying the flag of F1the United Kingdom, for which such conditional approval shall not exceed a total of 12 months.

The competent authority shall keep the approval of establishments under review when carrying out official controls.