Article 65 Decision by the competent authorities

The competent authorities shall act promptly where a production area must be closed or reclassified, or may be re-opened, or where live bivalve molluscs are subject to the application of measures as referred to in Article 62(2).

When deciding on the classification, reclassification, opening or closure of production areas in accordance with Articles 52, 62 and 63, competent authorities may take into account the results of checks carried out by food business operators or organisations representing food business operators, only if the laboratory carrying out the analysis is designated by the competent authorities, and the sampling and analysis are performed in accordance with a protocol agreed upon jointly by the competent authorities and food business operators or organisation concerned.