Regulation 19 Authorisation procedures: time for dealing with application

A competent authority must ensure that the procedures and formalities of an authorisation scheme provide for applications for authorisation to be processed as quickly as possible and, in any event, within a reasonable period from the time an application is complete for the purposes of processing.

That period must be fixed and made public in advance.

When justified by the complexity of the issue, that period may be extended once, by the competent authority, for a limited time.

The extension and its duration must be notified to the applicant in writing, with reasons, before the original period has expired.

In the event of failure to process the application within the period set or extended in accordance with the preceding provisions of this regulation, authorisation is deemed to have been granted by a competent authority, unless different arrangements are in place.

Any different arrangements must be justified by overriding reasons relating to the public interest, including a legitimate interest of third parties.