Decision (EU) 2020/637 of the European Central BankShow full title

Article 6 U.K. Assessment of compliance with the accreditation requirements

1. The ECB may reject a request for accreditation prior to assessing a manufacturer’s compliance with the accreditation requirements in accordance with this Article if the ECB determines that the euro secure item activity or euro item activity for which accreditation has been requested would have an adverse impact on the integrity and the supply chain of euro banknotes.

2. The ECB shall assess a manufacturer’s compliance with the requirements set out in Article 3(1)(b) to (d), and Article 3(3) against the documentation provided in accordance with Article 5 of this Decision.

3. In exceptional cases, the ECB may grant a derogation from the obligation to comply with the requirements set out in Article 4, if it determines that a manufacturer’s non-compliance does not have a significant impact on the manufacturer’s adherence to the accreditation requirements or the integrity of euro banknotes or the ECB’s reputation.

4. If a manufacturer meets the requirements set out in Article 3(1)(c) and (d) and Article 4, or pursuant to Article 3(4) has been granted an exemption from the requirements set out in Article 3(1)(c), the ECB shall provide the manufacturer with documentation containing the accreditation requirements in accordance with Article 3(1)(a). The ECB shall also provide the manufacturer with questionnaires that the manufacturer shall fill out, indicating how it complies with the accreditation requirements. The manufacturer shall fill out and return the completed questionnaires to the ECB within a reasonable time limit, as defined by the ECB. The manufacturer shall indicate how its measures comply with the relevant accreditation requirements and shall expressly disclose any limitations that might prevent the manufacturer from complying with the accreditation requirements, in particular any national legislation on using specialist destruction facilities where it is not possible to make these facilities available at the manufacturing site.

5. As part of its assessment of the manufacturer’s compliance with the relevant accreditation requirements in accordance with Article 3(1)(a), the ECB shall first check that the manufacturer complies with all the security requirements, which are set out in a separate decision. Once a manufacturer’s compliance with the security requirements has been verified, the ECB shall verify the manufacturer’s compliance with the other accreditation requirements set out in accordance with Article 3(1)(a). All assessments may take the form of on-site or off-site inspections in accordance with Article 11.

6. Where necessary, the ECB may ask the manufacturer to submit, clarify or complete any of the following within a reasonable time limit, as defined by the ECB:

(a) documentation to be submitted in accordance with Article 5;

(b) documentation to be filled out in accordance with paragraph 4;

(c) information to be provided in accordance with paragraph 5.

7. The ECB shall reject a request for accreditation that is incomplete or erroneous or that is not completed within the time limit, following the ECB’s request for additional information, clarification or completion under paragraph 6. The ECB shall also reject a request for accreditation where the request and the documentation to be provided are complete, but which show that the manufacturer does not comply with the accreditation requirements laid down in Articles 3 and 4.