F2The appropriate authority shall designate a competent public authority to verify that the deactivation of the firearm has been carried out in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Annex I (‘the verifying entity’).

Where the verifying entity is also authorised to deactivate firearms, F3the appropriate authority shall ensure a clear separation of those tasks and of the persons carrying them out within that entity.

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Where the deactivation of the firearm has been carried out in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Annex I, the verifying entity shall issue to the owner of the firearm F5certification in writing in accordance with the relevant legislation. F6...

The owner of a deactivated firearm shall retain the deactivation certificate at all times. If the deactivated firearm is placed on the market, it shall be accompanied by the deactivation certificate.

F7The appropriate authority shall ensure that a record is kept of the certificates issued for deactivated firearms, with an indication of the date of deactivation and the certificate number, for a period of at least 20 years.