8.—(1) Subject to regulation 3(2), an employer shall not undertake any work with asbestos unless he holds a licence granted under paragraph (2) of this regulation.
(2) The Executive may grant a licence for work with asbestos if it considers it appropriate to do so and—
(a)the person who wishes the licence to be granted to him has made application for it on a form approved for the purposes of this regulation by the Executive; and
(b)the application was made at least 28 days before the date from which the licence is to run, or such shorter period as the Executive may allow.
(3) A licence under this regulation—
(a)shall come into operation on the date specified in the licence, and shall be valid for any period up to a maximum of three years that the Executive may specify in it; and
(b)may be granted subject to such conditions as the Executive may consider appropriate.
(4) The Executive may vary the terms of a licence under this regulation if it considers it appropriate to do so and in particular may—
(a)add further conditions and vary or omit existing ones; and
(b)reduce the period for which the licence is valid or extend that period up to a maximum of three years from the date on which the licence first came into operation.
(5) The Executive may revoke a licence under this regulation if it considers it appropriate to do so.
(6) The holder of a licence under this regulation shall return the licence to the Executive—
(a)when required by the Executive for any amendment; or
(b)following its revocation.