The general format of the code numbers shall be as follows:
where:
‘AB’ is the ISO code for the country where the controls take place;
‘CDE’ is a term, indicated in three letters to be decided by the Commission or each Member State, like ‘bio’ or ‘öko’ or ‘org’ or ‘eko’ establishing a link with organic production; and
‘999’ is the reference number, indicated in maximum three digits, to be assigned by:
each Member State’s competent authority to the control authorities or control bodies to which it has delegated control tasks;
the Commission, to:
the control authorities and control bodies recognised by the Commission pursuant to Article 46,
to the competent authorities of third countries recognised by the Commission pursuant to Article 48.