Article 6 Procedural stages and timeframes

The safety certification body and the national safety authorities concerned with the intended area of operation shall apply the process set out in Annex II.

The safety certification body and the national safety authorities concerned with the intended area of operation shall evaluate, each for their own part, whether the application file contains the required documentary evidence listed in Annex I. The safety certification body shall inform the applicant, without undue delay, and in any case no later than one month following the date of receipt of the application, whether the application is complete.

The decision on the issuing of the single safety certificate shall be taken no later than four months following the date on which the applicant is informed that the application is complete, subject to paragraphs 5 to 7.

If the applicant is informed that its file is not complete, the safety certification body, in coordination with the national safety authorities concerned with the intended area of operation, shall request the necessary supplementary information promptly, including justifications and details of the timeframe for the applicant's response.

The timeframe for providing supplementary information shall be reasonable, proportionate to the difficulty of providing the information requested and agreed with the applicant as soon as it is informed that its file is not complete. If the applicant does not provide the required information within the agreed timeframe, the safety certification body may decide to extend the timeframe for the applicant's response or to notify the applicant that its application is rejected.

The decision on the issuing of the single safety certificate shall be taken no later than four months following the date on which the requested supplementary information is submitted by the applicant.

Even if the application file is complete, the Agency or any national safety authority concerned with the intended area of operation may request further information at any time prior to taking its decision and shall set a reasonable deadline for the provision thereof. Such a request shall extend the timeframe laid down in paragraph 3 of this Article under the conditions laid down in Annex II.

The timeframe in paragraph 3 of this Article may be extended by the Agency for the following periods referred to in Article 10(7) of Directive (EU) 2016/798:

The timeframe may also be extended for the time necessary for the applicant to arrange a visit or inspection on its sites, or an audit of its organisation.

The single safety certificate shall contain the information listed in Annex III.