3.—(1) This regulation applies to every EIA application received by the authority with whom it is lodged on or after the commencement of these Regulations and, for the purposes of this paragraph, the date of receipt of an application by an authority shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (3) of article 14 (time periods for decision) of the general development order.
(2) The relevant planning authority or the Scottish Ministers shall not grant planning permission pursuant to an application to which this regulation applies unless they have first taken the environmental information into consideration, and they shall state in their decision that they have done so.