Article 9 Obligations of accredited manufacturers to maintain their accreditation

An accredited manufacturer shall comply with the following obligations to maintain its accreditation for the relevant manufacturing site:

1. (1)

   keep the accreditation requirements confidential and respect the ECB confidentiality classification of all documents as provided in the ECB banknotes extranet;

2. (2)

   inform the ECB in writing of any renewal of or change in any of the certifications referred to in Article 3(1)(d), providing each time, within three months of the date of the renewal or change, a copy of the new or amended certificate;

3. (3)

   immediately inform the ECB in writing in the case of revocation of any of the certificates relating to the accreditation requirements referred to in Article 3(1)(d) or, when relevant, in Article 4(3);

4. (4)

   provide on an annual basis, and within two months of the end of a calendar year, an independent auditor’s declaration that certifies all of the following:

   1. (a)

      the implementation and operation of a corporate compliance programme as referred to in Article 4(3);

   2. (b)

      the accredited manufacturer has not been involved in any of the circumstances listed in Article 4(1) and (2);

5. (5)

   immediately inform the ECB in writing on the expiry of an uninterrupted period of 36 months in which the accredited manufacturer has not carried out any euro item activity, with the exception of destruction, storage, analysis or internal movement of euro secure items within a manufacturing site, or conducted any euro secure item activity;

6. (6)

   report to the ECB in writing, when performing a euro secure item activity, in accordance with the security requirements, any discrepancy in quantities of euro secure items identified during a euro secure item activity at its accredited manufacturing site;

7. (7)

   if intending to carry out any of the following activities, immediately inform and request prior written consent from the ECB:

   1. (a)

      changing any measure at the relevant manufacturing site that in any way affects, or may affect, compliance with the relevant accreditation requirements;

   2. (b)

      changing its ownership structure;

   3. (c)

      initiating a procedure to wind up the accredited manufacturer or any similar procedure;

   4. (d)

      reorganising its business or structure in any way that may affect the activity for which accreditation has been granted;

   5. (e)

      subcontracting or involving third parties, including any of the accredited manufacturer’s subsidiaries or associated companies, in a euro secure item activity or euro item activity for which the manufacturer has been accredited, regardless of whether the subcontracting or involvement of third parties in the euro secure item activity or euro item activity is to be carried out at the relevant manufacturing site or at another site;

8. (8)

   immediately inform the responsible NCBs in writing if any of the situations listed in point (7)(e) arises;

9. (9)

   immediately inform the ECB in writing if any of the following events occur:

   1. (a)

      the accredited manufacturer or any of its controlling entities has been the subject of a conviction by final judgment for any of the activities listed in Article 4(1);

   2. (b)

      the accredited manufacturer or any of its controlling entities is involved in any of the situations listed in Article 4(2);

10. (10)

    immediately inform the ECB in writing when it intends to start a qualification process, as separately laid down by the ECB in the relevant quality requirements, for any euro secure item or euro item. The notification shall include information about the planned start and end date of the qualification process;

11. (11)

    establish the required procedures to ensure that the latest versions of all relevant documents available to accredited manufacturers via the ECB banknotes extranet have been distributed appropriately at the accredited manufacturing site.