Legal provisions of COM(2016)491 - Union certification system for aviation security screening equipment

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dossier COM(2016)491 - Union certification system for aviation security screening equipment.
document COM(2016)491 EN
date September  7, 2016


Article 1 - Subject matter

This Regulation establishes a framework for a Union certification system for aviation security screening equipment.

Article 2 - Scope

1. This Regulation applies to all aviation security screening equipment for use in civil aviation made available or put into service within the Union.

2. This Regulation does not apply to explosive detection dogs when used as alternative means of screening

Article 3 - Definitions

For the purpose of this Regulation:

(1) aviation security screening equipment or equipment means devices of a specialised nature used, individually or as part of a system, to detect prohibited articles as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and its supplementing or implementing acts.

(1) ‘civil aviation’ means any air operation carried out by civil aircraft, excluding operations carried out by State aircraft referred to in Article 3 of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation;

(2) 'making available on the market’ means any supply of a product for distribution, consumption or use on the Union market in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;

(3) ‘placing on the market’ means the first making available of a product on the Union market;

(4) putting into service means the first use, for its intended purpose, in the Union, of equipment;

(5) EU type-approval means the procedure whereby a Member State certifies that a type and configuration of equipment satisfies the performance requirements referred to in Annex I and that the procedural requirements of this Regulation have been complied with;

(6) ‘virtual testing method’ means computer simulations, whether or not requiring human intervention, which demonstrate whether aviation security screening equipment fulfils the performance requirements referred to in Annex I;

(7) ‘EU type-approval certificate’ means the document whereby an approval authority certifies that a type and configuration of equipment is approved;

(8) ‘certificate of conformity’ means a document certifying that a piece of equipment was manufactured in conformity with the type and configuration covered by an EU type-approval certificate.

Article 4 - Sale and entry into service of equipment

Member States shall not impede the making available and/or putting into service of any equipment which is accompanied by a valid certificate of conformity issued in accordance with Article 5. They shall not impose additional requirements in respect of such equipment.

Article 5 - Obligations of manufacturers

1. The manufacturer shall issue a certificate of conformity to accompany each piece of equipment that is manufactured in conformity with the type and configuration covered by an EU type-approval certificate.

2. The certificate of conformity shall be as set out in Annex II and shall be issued in a language which can be easily understood by consumers and other end-users, as determined by the Member State concerned. Any approval authority may request that the manufacturer translates the certificate of conformity into the official language or languages of the Member State of that approval authority.

3. The manufacturer shall complete the certificate of conformity in its entirety. The certificate of conformity shall not contain restrictions as regards the use of the equipment.

4. The manufacturer shall make the certificate of conformity to prevent forgery.

A duplicate of the certificate of conformity may be issued at the request of an approval authority. Only the manufacturer may issue the duplicate certificate.

The word ‘duplicate’ shall be clearly visible on the face of any duplicate certificate.

5. By issuing the certificate of conformity, the manufacturer shall assume responsibility for the compliance of the equipment with the approved type and configuration.

6. Manufacturers shall keep the technical documentation and the certificate of conformity for at least ten years after the equipment has been placed on the market.

7. The manufacturer shall affix visibly, legibly and indelibly an EU type-approval mark and number to equipment manufactured in conformity with the approved type and configuration.

8. The EU type-approval mark and number shall be as set out in Annex III.

9. Manufacturers shall ensure that procedures are in place for conformity of production. Changes in equipment design or characteristics and changes in the performance requirements by reference to which a type-approval certificate has been issued shall be adequately taken into account.

10. Manufacturers shall ensure that their equipment bears a type, batch or serial number or other element allowing their identification, or, where the size or nature of the equipment does not allow it, that the required information is provided on the packaging or in a document accompanying the equipment.

11. Manufacturers shall indicate their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and the address at which they can be contacted on the equipment or, where that is not possible, on its packaging or in a document accompanying the equipment other than the certificate of conformity. The address must indicate a single point at which the manufacturer can be contacted.

12. Manufacturers shall ensure that the product is accompanied by instructions and safety information in a language which can be easily understood by consumers and other end-users, as determined by the Member State concerned.

13. Manufacturers who consider or have reason to believe that equipment which they have placed on the market is not in conformity with the approved type and configuration shall immediately take the necessary corrective measures to bring that equipment into conformity, to withdraw it or recall it, if appropriate. Furthermore, where the equipment presents a risk, manufacturers shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States in which they made the equipment available to that effect, giving details, in particular, of the noncompliance and of any corrective measures taken.

14. Manufacturers shall, further to a reasoned request from an approval authority, provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the equipment, in a language which can be easily understood by that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by equipment which they have placed on the market.

Article 6 - Approval authorities

1. Each Member State shall establish or appoint an approval authority.

The approval authority shall have competence for all aspects of the approval of equipment as well as for issuing, amending and withdrawing EU type-approval certificates.

Each Member State shall notify the Commission of the name, address, including electronic address, and area of responsibility of its approval authority.

2. An approval authority shall hold the facility security clearance required to handle EU classified information at the EU Confidential level or above as defined in Commission Decision No 2015/444/EC 7 .

Article 7 - Applications for EU type-approval certificate

1. The manufacturer shall submit an application to an approval authority.

2. Only one application shall be submitted in respect of any given type and configuration of equipment. The application shall be submitted in only one Member State.

3. A separate application shall be submitted for each type and configuration to be approved.

4. An application shall consist of the information folder containing the concept of operation for the equipment and other relevant documents, data, drawings and photographs. The manufacturer may provide the information folder in paper or electronic form.

5. A manufacturer established outside the Union which wishes to apply for EU type-approval certificate shall appoint a representative established within the Union to represent it before the approval authority.

Article 8 - Tests

1. Once it receives an application, the approval authority shall ensure that appropriate tests are carried out by a technical service to determine whether the type and configuration of equipment concerned comply with the performance requirements referred to in Annex I.

2. Tests shall be undertaken by a technical service notified under Article 21 and meet the requirements of the common testing methodologies referred to in Annex IV.

3. The approval authority may, by reasoned request, call upon the manufacturer to supply any additional information needed to facilitate the execution of those tests. The manufacturer shall provide such information within the time-limit fixed by the approval authority.

4. The tests shall be performed on equipment of the type and configuration to be approved.

The manufacturer shall make available to the approval authority as many pieces of equipment as are necessary to enable the approval authority to conduct the EU type-approval procedure

5. Virtual testing methods may be used for re-testing equipment which has undergone modifications only to the detection software.

Those methods shall meet the requirements of the common testing methodologies referred to in paragraph 2.

Articles 9

Approval of the type and configuration of equipment

1. The approval authority shall approve the type and configuration of the equipment concerned if it complies with the performance requirements referred to in Annex I.

2. If an approval authority finds that a type and configuration of equipment present a serious risk to safety or a serious risk of harms to the environment or public health, it may refuse to approve that equipment even if it complies with the relevant performance requirements.

3. If an approval authority refuses to approve any equipment, it shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission thereof without delay and shall inform them of the reasons for the refusal.

4. In case of a refusal under paragraph 2, the Commission shall consult the parties concerned without delay and, in particular, the approval authority that refused to issue the EU type-approval certificate in order to assess whether the relevant requirements of paragraph 2 were correctly applied.

5. Where the Commission considers that the relevant requirements of paragraph 2 were incorrectly applied, it shall require the approval authority to take appropriate measures to comply with those requirements.

Article 10 - Relation between the Commission and the body responsible for the elaboration of the common testing methodologies

1. The European Union [represented by the Commission] shall become a full member of the body responsible for the elaboration of the common testing methodologies referred to in Annex IV.

Article 11 - EU type-approval certificate

1. The approval authority shall issue an EU type-approval certificate in respect of any equipment it approves .

2. The EU type approval certificate shall be drawn up in accordance with the model in Annex V.

In respect of each type and configuration of equipment, the approval authority shall:

(a)complete all the relevant sections of the EU type-approval certificate;

(b)compile the information package including: the index, the information folder accompanied by the test result and all other documents added by the technical service or by the approval authority;

(c)provide the completed certificate to the applicant without delay in paper or electronic or form.

3. For each type and configuration of equipment which it has approved, the approval authority shall, within 20 working days from issuance of the type approval certificate, send a copy of the EU type-approval certificate to the other approval authorities and the Commission, including the attachments. The copy may be in paper or electronic form.

4. If so requested by the approval authority of another Member State, the approval authority which issued a EU type-approval certificate shall, within 20 working days of receiving the request, send an additional copy of the EU type-approval certificate in question, including the attachments. The copy may be in paper or electronic form.

Article 12 - Conformity of production arrangements

1. An approval authority which has approved a type and configuration of equipment shall take the necessary measures in accordance with Annex VI to verify, if necessary in cooperation with the other approval authorities, that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that the equipment produced conforms to the approved type and configuration.

2. An approval authority which has approved a type and configuration of equipment shall take the necessary measures in accordance with Annex VI in relation to that approval to verify, if necessary in cooperation with the other approval authorities, that the arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 continue to be adequate and that produced equipment continues to conform to the approved type and configuration. Verification to ensure that products conform to the approved type may be limited to one or more of the procedures set out in Annex VI.

3. Where an approval authority which has approved a type and configuration of equipment establishes that the arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 are not being applied, deviate significantly from the arrangements agreed, or have ceased to be applied, although production is not discontinued, that approval authority shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the conformity of production procedure is followed correctly. Those measures may include the withdrawal of the EU type-approval certificate. The approval authority shall inform the other approval authorities and the Commission of any measures taken.

Article 13 - Applications for amendment of EU type-approval certificates

1. Where it is necessary to change the particulars recorded in the information package as a result of changes to the equipment concerned, the manufacturer shall apply for an amendment of the EU type-approval certificate without delay.

2. The application for amendment shall be submitted to the approval authority that issued the original EU type-approval certificate.

Article 14 - Types of amendment

1. If the approval authority finds that additional testing is necessary before an amendment can be made, it shall inform the manufacturer accordingly. The amendments shall only be made after the additional tests have been carried out.

2. An amendment shall be designated an extension of EU type-approval certificate, if one or more of the following apply:

(a)additional testing is required;

(b)any information on the EU type-approval certificate, with the exception of its attachments, has changed;

(c)new performance requirements related to the approved equipment enter into force.

In such cases, the approval authority shall issue an updated EU type-approval certificate denoted by an extension number. The updated EU type-approval certificate shall show clearly the reason for the extension and the date of issue.

3. Where paragraph 2 does not apply the amendment shall be designated a revision of EU type-approval certificate.

Article 15 - Issue and notification of amendments

1. In the case of an extension, the approval authority shall update all relevant sections of the EU type-approval certificate, the attachments thereto, and the index to the information package. The updated certificate and its attachments shall be issued to the manufacturer without delay.

2. In the case of a revision, the approval authority shall issue the updated documents or the consolidated, updated version of the information package, as appropriate, to the manufacturer without delay. The approval authority shall mark each updated page of the information package to show clearly the nature of the change and the date of re-issue.

3. Whenever updated documents or a consolidated, updated version of the information package are issued, the index to the information package attached to the approval certificate shall be amended accordingly to show the date of the most recent extension or revision, or the date of the most recent consolidation of the updated version.

4. The approval authority shall notify any amendment made to EU type-approval certificates to the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission in accordance with Article 11(3).

Article 16 - Termination of validity of EU type-approval certificates

1. An EU type-approval certificate shall cease to be valid when either or both of the following occur:

(a)new performance requirements applicable to the approved equipment become mandatory for the sale or entry into service of new equipment, and it is not possible to update the approval accordingly;

(b)production of the approved equipment is definitively discontinued voluntarily.

2. If production of the approved equipment is definitively discontinued voluntarily, the manufacturer shall notify the approval authority that approved that equipment. Upon receiving such notification, that authority shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission thereof within 20 working days.

Article 17 - Procedure for dealing with equipment presenting a risk at national level

1. Where the market surveillance authorities of one Member State have taken action pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, or where they have sufficient reason to believe that a equipment covered by this Regulation presents a risk to the health or safety of persons or to other aspects of public interest protection covered by this Regulation, they shall carry out an evaluation in relation to the equipment concerned covering all the requirements laid down in this Regulation. The manufacturers shall cooperate as necessary with the market surveillance authorities.

Where, in the course of that evaluation, the market surveillance authorities find that the equipment does not comply with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, they shall without delay require the manufacturer to take all appropriate corrective actions to bring the equipment into compliance with those requirements, to withdraw the equipment from the market, or to recall it within a reasonable period, commensurate with the nature of the risk, as they may prescribe.

The market surveillance authorities shall inform the relevant notified body accordingly.

Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 shall apply to the measures referred to in the second subparagraph.

2. Where the market surveillance authorities consider that non-compliance is not restricted to their national territory, they shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of the results of the evaluation and of the actions which they have required the manufacturer to take.

3. The manufacturer shall ensure that all appropriate corrective action is taken in respect of the equipment concerned that it has made available on the market throughout the Union.

4. Where the manufacturer does not take adequate corrective action within the period referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, the market surveillance authorities shall take all appropriate provisional measures to prohibit or restrict the equipment being made available on their national market, to withdraw the product from that market or to recall it.

They shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission, without delay, of those measures.

5. The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall include all available details, in particular the data necessary for the identification of the noncompliant equipment, the origin of the equipment, the nature of the noncompliance alleged and the risk involved, the nature and duration of the national measures taken and the arguments put forward by the relevant manufacturer.

6. Approval authorities other than the approval authority of the Member State initiating the procedure shall without delay inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of any measures adopted and of any additional information at their disposal relating to the non-compliance of the equipment concerned, and, in the event of disagreement with the notified national measure, of their objections.

7. Where, within 3 months of receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 4, no objection has been raised by either another approval authority or the Commission in respect of a provisional measure taken by the approval authority of a Member State, that measure shall be deemed justified.

8. Approval authorities shall ensure that appropriate restrictive measures are taken in respect of the equipment concerned, such as withdrawal of the equipment from their market, without delay.

Article 18 - Union safeguard procedure

1. Where, on completion of the procedure set out in Article 17(3) and (4), objections are raised against a measure taken by the approval authority of a Member State, or where the Commission considers a national measure to be contrary to Union legislation, the Commission shall without delay enter into consultation with the approval authority of the Member States and the relevant manufacturer and shall evaluate the national measure. On the basis of the results of that evaluation, the Commission shall decide whether the national measure is justified or not.

The Commission shall address its decision to the approval authorities of all Member States and shall immediately communicate it to them and the relevant manufacturer.

2. If the national measure is considered justified, the approval authorities of all Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the non-compliant equipment is withdrawn from their market, and shall inform the Commission accordingly. If the national measure is considered unjustified, the approval authority of the Member State concerned shall withdraw the measure.

Article 19 - Equipment not in conformity with the approved type

1. An approval authority may verify at any time that equipment accompanied by a certificate of conformity or bearing an EU type-approval mark still conforms to the type and configuration it has approved.

That verification shall be carried out in accordance with Annex VI. However, it may be limited to one or more of the procedures set out therein.

2. If the approval authority finds that the equipment referred to in paragraph 1 does not conform to the type and configuration it has approved, it shall ensure that the manufacturer brings the equipment into conformity with the approved type and configuration by taking any necessary measures. Those measures may include the withdrawal of the EU type-approval certificate.

The approval authority shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of the measures taken.

3. If an approval authority withdraws an EU type-approval certificate, it shall inform the approval authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of its decision and the reasons for it within 20 working days.

4. For the purposes of paragraph 1, deviations from the particulars in the EU type-approval certificate or the information package shall be deemed to constitute failure to conform to the approved type and configuration.

5. If an approval authority finds that equipment accompanied by a certificate of conformity or bearing an EU type-approval mark does not conform to the type and configuration approved by another approval authority, it shall temporarily stop the making available or put into service of that equipment in that Member State and request, without delay, the approval authority which issued the EU type-approval certificate to verify that equipment in production continues to conform to the approved type and configuration.

On receipt of such a request, the approval authority concerned shall take the requisite action as soon as possible and, in any case, within three months of the date of the request. It shall inform the other approval authorities and the Commission thereof.

6. If the approval authority that issued the EU type-approval certificate considers that the equipment concerned does conform to the approved type and configuration, it shall endeavour to settle the dispute. The Commission shall be kept informed by the two parties and, where necessary, shall hold appropriate consultations with a view to reaching a settlement. Until the solution is found, the temporary measures referred to in paragraph 5 are in place.

Article 20 - Notification of decisions and remedies available

All decisions taken pursuant to Articles 17, 18 and 19 shall state the reasons on which they are based. Member States shall ensure that there is a remedy for any decision taken pursuant to these articles.

The approval authority shall notify any such decision to all the parties concerned and, at the same time, inform them of the remedies available to them under national law and of the time limits for the exercise of such remedies.

Article 21 - Notification of technical services

1. At least one approval authority shall notify to the Commission the name, the address including electronic address, the responsible persons and the category of activities of each technical service for the purpose of Article 8. The approval authority shall notify the Commission of any subsequent modifications thereto.

2. A technical service shall carry out its tasks under this Regulation only if it has been notified to the Commission.

3. Approval authorities may designate any notified technical service for the purpose of Article 8.

4. The Commission shall publish a list and contact details of the approval authorities and technical services on its web-site.

Article 22 - Requirements of technical services

1. The technical service shall carry out or supervise the tests required under Article 8. It shall not conduct tests or verifications in a category of activities for which it has not been notified to the Commission under Article 21.

2. There shall be four categories of technical services:

(a)category A, technical service which carries out the tests referred to in Article 8(1) in its own facilities;

(b)category B, technical service which supervises the tests referred to in Article 8(1), performed in the manufacturer’s facilities or in the facilities of a third party;

(c)category C, technical service which assesses and monitors, on a regular basis, the manufacturer’s procedures for verifying conformity of production;

(d)category D, technical service which supervises or performs tests or verifications in the framework of the conformity of production arrangements.

3. The technical service shall possess appropriate skills, specific technical knowledge and proven experience in its area of activity. Technical services shall also be able to procure or source all the materials needed to carry out the tests in accordance with Article 8(2).

In addition, technical services shall comply with the requirements of Annex VII.

4. Technical services shall ensure that the average time between the request to carry out a test of equipment and the provision of the test results to the approval authority is of a maximum period of 6 months. This time may be prolonged in exceptional cases or if formally requested by the manufacturer.

5. An approval authority may act as a technical service.

6. A technical service or an approval authority acting as a technical service shall hold the Facility Security Clearance required to handle EU Classified Information at the EU Confidential level or above as defined in Commission Decision No 2015/444/EC  8 .

7. An approval authority may designate a technical service based in a third country only in the framework of a bilateral agreement between the Union and that third country.

Article 23 - Assessment of the skills of technical services

1. The skills referred to in Article 22(3) shall be demonstrated by an accreditation certificate issued by a national accreditation body.

2. The accreditation certificate shall be sent to the Commission upon request.

3. An approval authority which acts as a technical service shall demonstrate compliance with the skills referred to in Article 22(3) through documentary evidence, including an assessment conducted by auditors independent of the activity being assessed. Such auditors may be from within the same organisation provided that they are managed autonomously from personnel undertaking the assessed activity. The Commission may send auditors to check compliance with the provisions of Article 22(3).


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Article 24 - Coordination of technical services

1. Technical services shall organise mutual visits to their respective premises in order to exchange information and best practices in performing the tests required under Article 8 (1).

2. The Commission shall establish a sectoral group of technical services to ensure that appropriate coordination and cooperation between technical services is achieved. Approval authorities shall ensure that the technical services designated by them participate in the work of that group, directly or by means of designated representatives.

3. The Commission shall act as the Chair of the sectoral group.

4. The tasks of the sectoral group shall be in particular to:

(a)establish quality guidelines for the application of the common testing methodologies referred to in Article 8(2);

(b)coordinate and develop measures aimed at ensuring the harmonised implementation of Common Testing Methodologies by technical services, including single-source test materials, common formats for sharing documents and comparative testing campaigns;

(c)design and organise training for staff of technical services;

(d)coordinate technical harmonisation with third countries concerning conformity assessment of aviation security screening equipment.

Article 25 - Changes to designations

1. Where an approval authority has ascertained that a technical service designated by it no longer meets the requirements laid down in this Regulation, or that it is failing to fulfil its obligations, the approval authority shall restrict, suspend or withdraw the designation as appropriate. The approval authority shall without delay inform the Commission and the other approval authorities. The Commission shall modify the list referred to in Article 21(4) accordingly.

2. Where the designation of a technical service is restricted, suspended or withdrawn, or the technical service has ceased its activity, the approval authority which designated the technical service shall take appropriate steps to ensure that the files of that technical service are either processed by another technical service or kept available for the competent national authority at its request.

Article 26 - Challenge to the competence of technical services

1. The Commission shall investigate all cases where it has doubts, or doubts are brought to its attention, regarding the competence of a technical service or the continued fulfilment by a technical service of the requirements and responsibilities applicable to it.

2. The approval authority of the Member State that has notified the technical service shall provide the Commission, on request, with all relevant information.

3. The Commission shall ensure that all sensitive information obtained in the course of its investigation is treated confidentially.

4. Where the Commission ascertains that the notified technical service does not meet or no longer meets the requirements for its accreditation, it shall inform the approval authority of the Member State which has notified the technical service accordingly and request it to take the necessary corrective measures, including withdrawing the notification if necessary.

Article 27 - Amendments to the Annexes

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 28 in order to amend the annexes as follows:

(a)it may amend Annex I to reflect the introduction of new performance requirements for aviation security screening equipment;

(b)it may amend the annexes where necessary to adapt them to the development of scientific and technical knowledge.

Article 28 - Exercise of the delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 27 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of ten years from [the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 27 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 27 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.

Article 29 - Penalties

Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation, in particular those of Article 5, 7 and 8 and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify the Commission of those rules and of those measures and shall notify it without delay any subsequent amendment affecting them.

Article 30 - Transitional provisions

Until [three years after entry into force of this Regulation], Member States may continue to approve equipment under their national rules.

At the request of the manufacturer, an approval authority which approved a type and configuration of equipment under national rules before that date, shall issue an EU type-approval certificate in respect of that type and configuration of equipment if it was tested in accordance with Article 8(2).

Article 31 - Assessment

1. By [four years after entry into force of this Regulation] at the latest, Member States shall inform the Commission of the implementation of this Regulation.

2. By [five years after entry into force of this Regulation], the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation accompanied, where appropriate, by relevant legislative proposals.

Article 32 - Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from [one year after entry into force of this Regulation]

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.