SFC2014 shall be accessible to Member States and the Commission either directly through an interactive user interface (that is to say, a Web application) or via a technical interface using predefined protocols (that is to say, Web services) that allows for automatic synchronisation and transmission of data between Member States information systems and SFC2014.

The date of electronic transmission of information by the Member State to the Commission and vice versa shall be considered to be the date of submission of the document concerned.

In cases of force majeure, a malfunctioning of SFC2014 or a lack of a connection with SFC2014 exceeding one working day in the last week before a regulatory deadline for the submission of information or five working days at other times, the information exchange between Member State and the Commission may take place in paper form using the models, formats and templates referred to in Article 3(1).

When the electronic exchange system ceases to malfunction, the connection with that system is re-established or the cause of force majeure ceases, the party concerned shall enter without delay the information already sent in paper form into SFC2014.

In cases referred to in paragraph 3 the date stamped by the post shall be considered to be the date of submission of the document concerned.