The decision granting the right to confidentiality shall be valid for a period of five years.

If the beneficiary of this decision considers that there are exceptional reasons justifying an extension of this period, he may submit a reasoned request to the competent authority which initially granted the request for confidentiality.

The competent authority shall decide on this new request within the time limits and under the conditions referred to in Article 4.

The confidentiality period shall not be extended by more than three years.