At the request of a third country, the F3Secretary of StateF4may make regulations approving checks on conformity to marketing standards carried out by that third country prior to import into F5Great Britain.

The approval referred to in paragraph 1 may be granted to third countries where F6Great Britain marketing standards, or at least equivalent standards, are met for products exported to F6Great Britain.

The approval shall specify the official authority in the third country under the responsibility of which checks referred to in paragraph 1 are carried out. That authority shall be responsible for contacts with F6Great Britain. The approval shall also specify the third country inspection bodies in charge of the proper checks.

The approval may only apply to products originating in the third country concerned and may be limited to certain products.

The third country inspection bodies shall be official bodies or bodies officially recognised by the authority referred to in paragraph 2 which provide satisfactory guarantees and dispose of the necessary personnel, equipment and facilities to carry out checks according to the methods referred to in Article 17(1) or equivalent methods.

The third countries where the conformity checks have been approved under this Article, and the products concerned, shall be set out in Annex IV.

The F7Secretary of State shall make available, by the means it considers appropriate, details of the official authorities and inspection bodies concerned.

F8Whenever the Secretary of State makes regulations under paragraph 1, those regulations must include provision amending Annex IV to include the third country or countries where conformity checks have been approved under paragraph 1 and the products concerned.