Article 6Frequency and nature of checks on monitoring organisations
1.
The F1competent authority 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 F2the 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)
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 F5competent authority shall carry out checks in accordance with documented procedures.
5.
F6The competent authority 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.