[F1References under Article 15: time limitsN.I.
15A—(1) Every reference under Article 15 shall specify a period (not longer than six months beginning with the date of the reference) within which a report on the reference is to be made.
(2) A report of the Competition Commission on a reference under Article 15 shall not have effect (and no action shall be taken in relation to it under Article 17) unless the report is made before the end of the period specified in the reference or such further period (if any) as may be allowed by the Director under paragraph (3).
(3) The Director may, if he has received representations on the subject from the Competition Commission and is satisfied that there are special reasons why the report cannot be made within the period specified in the reference, extend that period by no more than six months.
(4) No more than one extension is possible under paragraph (3) in relation to the same reference.
(5) The Director shall, in the case of an extension made by him under paragraph (3)—
(a)publish that extension in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it; and
(b)send a copy of what has been published by him under sub-paragraph (a) to the licence holder.]