Article 11 Inspections

The ECB shall assess whether an accredited manufacturer complies with the accreditation requirements by conducting on-site or off-site inspections.

The ECB shall conduct off-site inspections in relation to any documentation requested by the ECB that is relevant for assessing the accredited manufacturer’s compliance with the relevant accreditation requirements. Any request for documentation that the ECB addresses to an accredited manufacturer shall not constitute an off-site inspection unless the request refers explicitly to an off-site inspection.

The ECB may conduct on-site inspections, whether announced in advance or unannounced.

During an on-site inspection, the ECB shall assess an accredited manufacturer’s compliance with the relevant accreditation requirements at the manufacturing site.

The ECB shall commence announced on-site inspections on the date agreed in advance with the accredited manufacturer. The accredited manufacturer shall ensure that the relevant euro secure item activity or euro item activity is being performed at the manufacturing site during the inspection.

The ECB shall decide on the duration of the announced or unannounced on-site inspection to ensure that sufficient information is obtained to assess the accredited manufacturer’s compliance with all accreditation requirements. The ECB may put on hold an ongoing on-site inspection in order to permit the accredited manufacturer to provide evidence of compliance with the relevant accreditation requirements.

The accredited manufacturer shall grant the ECB access to all areas of the manufacturing site and to all documents which the ECB considers relevant to the inspection.

The accredited manufacturer shall return to the ECB any documentation required for the inspection, such as the completed inspection questionnaire, available on the ECB banknotes extranet or any other documentation that the ECB submits to the accredited manufacturer prior to the inspection, at least ten business days before the date on which the on-site inspection is due to commence or as otherwise specified by the ECB.