Frequency and nature of checks on monitoring organisations
Article 6
1
The competent authorities shall ensure that the checks at regular intervals referred to in Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 are carried out at least once every two years.
2
Checks referred to in Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 shall be carried out in particular in any of the following cases:
a
where a competent authority has, while carrying out checks on operators, detected shortcomings in the effectiveness or implementation by operators of the due diligence system established by a monitoring organisation;
b
where the Commission has informed the competent authorities that a monitoring organisation has undergone subsequent changes as provided for in Article 9(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 363/2012 of 23 February 2012 on the procedural rules for the recognition and withdrawal of recognition of monitoring organisations as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market .
3
Checks shall be carried out without prior warning, except where prior notification of the monitoring organisation is necessary in order to ensure the effectiveness of the checks.
4
The competent authorities shall carry out checks in accordance with documented procedures.
5
Competent authorities shall carry out checks to ensure compliance with Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 that shall include, in particular and as appropriate, the following activities:
a
spot checks, including field audits;
b
examination of documentation and records of monitoring organisations;
c
interviews with the management and staff of the monitoring organisation;
d
interviews with operators and traders or any other relevant person;
e
examination of documentation and records of operators;
f
examination of samples of the supply of operators using the due diligence system of the monitoring organisation concerned.
OJ L 115, 27.4.2012, p. 12.