S.L. 33.7 Art. 21Operational obligations for notified bodies.

(1) Notified bodies shall carry out conformity assessments in accordance with the conformity assessment procedures provided for in Schedule III.

(2) Conformity assessments shall be carried out in a proportionate manner, avoiding unnecessary burdens for economic operators and private importers. Conformity assessment bodies shall perform their activities taking due account of the size of an undertaking, the sector in which it operates, its structure, the degree of complexity of the product technology in question and the mass or serial nature of the production process. In so doing, they shall nevertheless respect the degree of rigour and the level of protection required for the compliance of the explosive with these regulations.

(3) Where a notified body finds that the essential safety requirements set out in Schedule II or in corresponding harmonised standards or other technical specifications have not been met by a manufacturer, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall not issue a certificate of conformity.

(4) Where, in the course of the monitoring of conformity following the issue of a certificate, a notified body finds that an explosive is no longer in compliance; it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall suspend or withdraw the certificate if necessary.

(5) Where corrective measures are not taken or do not have the required effect, the notified body shall restrict, suspend or withdraw any certificates, as appropriate.

(6) Notified bodies shall inform the Technical Regulations Division of the following:

(a) any refusal, restriction, suspension or withdrawal of a certificate;

(b) any circumstances affecting the scope of or conditions for notification;

(c) any request for information which they have received from market surveillance authorities regarding conformity assessment activities;

(d) on request, conformity assessment activities performed within the scope of their notification and any other activity performed, including cross-border activities and subcontracting.

(7) Notified bodies shall provide the other bodies notified under the Directive carrying out similar conformity assessment activities covering the same products with relevant information on issues relating to negative and, on request, positive conformity assessment results.

(8) Notified bodies shall participate, directly or by means of designated representatives, in the appropriate coordination and cooperation groups for notified bodies organised by the European Commission.