Decision of the European Central Bank of 25 November 2010 on the quality accreditation procedure for manufacturers of euro banknotes (ECB/2010/22) (2010/773/EU) (repealed)

Article 3 Full quality accreditation

1. A manufacturer may only carry out a euro banknote production activity if the ECB grants it full quality accreditation for that activity.

2. A manufacturer may be granted full quality accreditation for a euro banknote production activity provided that it fulfils all of the following conditions:

(a) it has been involved in a euro banknote production activity in the 24 months preceding the request for full quality accreditation or has been granted temporary quality accreditation as laid down in Article 4 and has started a euro banknote production activity in accordance with Article 10(3);

(b) it conforms with the quality management series of standards ISO 9001 at a particular manufacturing site for a particular euro banknote production activity and a certification authority has issued a certificate to that effect;

(c) it conforms with the quality requirements at the abovementioned manufacturing site for the abovementioned euro banknote production activity;

(d) if it produces euro secure items, it has full security accreditation at the abovementioned manufacturing site for the abovementioned euro secure activity pursuant to Decision ECB/2008/3;

(e) if it is a printing works, its manufacturing site is located in a Member State; and

(f) if it is not a printing works, its manufacturing site is located in a Member State or in a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member State.

3. The Executive Board may grant exemptions to the location requirement set out in points (e) and (f) on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the views of the Banknote Committee. Any such decision shall be promptly notified to the Governing Council. The Executive Board shall abide by any decision of the Governing Council on this issue.

4. Full quality accreditation shall be granted to a manufacturer for 24 months, subject to a decision taken pursuant to Articles 15, 16 or 17. Full quality accreditation may be renewed every 24 months.

5. The ECB’s prior written consent shall be required for an accredited manufacturer to outsource the production of euro banknotes or euro banknote raw materials to another manufacturing site or to any third party, including the manufacturer’s subsidiaries and associated companies.