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1. EC type-examination is the part of a conformity assessment procedure in which a notified body examines the technical design of marine equipment and verifies and attests that the technical design of the marine equipment meets the relevant requirements.

2. EC type-examination may be carried out in either of the following manners:

— examination of a specimen, representative of the production envisaged, of the complete product (production type);

— assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the marine equipment through examination of the technical documentation and supporting evidence referred to in point 3, plus examination of specimens, representative of the production envisaged, of one or more critical parts of the product (combination of production type and design type).

3. The manufacturer shall lodge an application for EC type-examination with a single notified body of its choice. The application shall include:

— the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, its name and address as well;

— a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body;

— the technical documentation. The technical documentation shall make it possible to assess the conformity of the marine equipment with the applicable requirements of the international instruments as referred to in Article 4, and shall include an adequate analysis and assessment of the risk(s). The technical documentation shall specify the applicable requirements and shall cover, as far as relevant for the assessment, the design, manufacture and operation of the marine equipment. The technical documentation shall contain, wherever applicable, at least the following elements:

(a) a general description of the marine equipment;

(b) conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.;

(c) descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of those drawings and schemes and of the operation of the marine equipment;

(d) a list of the requirements and testing standards which are applicable to the marine equipment concerned in accordance with this Directive, together with a description of the solutions adopted to meet those requirements;

(e) results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.; and (f) test reports;

— the specimens representative of the production envisaged. The notified body may request further specimens if needed for carrying out the test programme;

— the supporting evidence for the adequacy of the technical design solution. This supporting evidence shall mention any documents that have been used. The supporting evidence shall include, where necessary, the results of tests carried out by the appropriate laboratory of the manufacturer, or by another testing laboratory on the manufacturer's behalf and under its responsibility.

4. The notified body shall: For the marine equipment: 4.1. examine the technical documentation and supporting evidence to assess the adequacy of the technical design of the marine equipment; For the specimen(s): 4.2. verify that the specimen(s) have been manufactured in conformity with the technical documentation, and identify the elements which have been designed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the relevant requirements and testing standards, as well as the elements which have been designed without applying the relevant provisions of those standards;

4.3. carry out appropriate examinations and tests, or have them carried out, in accordance with this Directive; 4.4. agree with the manufacturer on a location where the examinations and tests will be carried out.

5. The notified body shall draw up an evaluation report that records the activities undertaken in accordance with point 4 and their outcomes. Without prejudice to its obligations vis-à-vis the notifying authorities, the notified body shall release the content of that report, in full or in part, only with the agreement of the manufacturer.

6. Where the type meets the requirements of the specific international instruments that apply to the marine equipment concerned, the notified body shall issue an EC type-examination certificate to the manufacturer. The certificate shall contain the name and address of the manufacturer, the conclusions of the examination, the conditions (if any) for its validity and the necessary data for identification of the approved type. The certificate may have one or more annexes attached.

The certificate and its annexes shall contain all relevant information to allow the conformity of manufactured products with the examined type to be evaluated and to allow for in-service control. Where the type does not satisfy the applicable requirements of the international instruments, the notified body shall refuse to issue an EC type-examination certificate and shall inform the applicant accordingly, giving detailed reasons for its refusal.

7. If the approved type no longer complies with the applicable requirements, the notified body shall determine whether further testing or a new conformity assessment procedure is necessary. The manufacturer shall inform the notified body that holds the technical documentation relating to the EC type-examination certificate of all modifications to the approved type that may affect the conformity of the marine equipment with the requirements of the relevant international instruments or the conditions for validity of the certificate. Such modifications shall require additional approval in the form of an addition to the original EC type-examination certificate.

8. Each notified body shall inform its notifying authorities concerning the EC type-examination certificates and/or any additions thereto which it has issued or withdrawn, and shall, periodically or upon request, make available to its notifying authorities the list of certificates and/or any additions thereto refused, suspended or otherwise restricted. Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies concerning the EC type-examination certificates and/or any additions thereto which it has refused, withdrawn, suspended or otherwise restricted, and, upon request, concerning the certificates and/or additions thereto which it has issued.

The Commission, the Member States and the other notified bodies may, on request, obtain a copy of the EC type-examination certificates and/or additions thereto. On request, the Commission and the Member States may obtain a copy of the technical documentation and the results of the examinations carried out by the notified body. The notified body shall keep a copy of the EC type-examination certificate, its annexes and additions, as well as the technical file including the documentation submitted by the manufacturer, until the expiry of the validity of the certificate.

9. The manufacturer shall keep a copy of the EC type-examination certificate, its annexes and additions together with the technical documentation at the disposal of the national authorities for at least 10 years after the wheel mark has been affixed on the last product manufactured and in no case for a period shorter than the expected life of the marine equipment concerned.

10. The manufacturer’s authorised representative may lodge the application referred to in point 3 and fulfil the obligations set out in points 7 and 9, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

1. Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 2 and 5, and ensures and declares on its sole responsibility that the marine equipment concerned is in conformity with the type described in the EC type-examination certificate and that it satisfies the requirements of the international instruments that apply to it.

2. ManufacturingThe manufacturer shall operate an approved quality system for production, final product inspection and testing of the products concerned as specified in point 3, and shall be subject to surveillance as specified in point 4.

3. Quality system 3.1. The manufacturer shall lodge an application for assessment of its quality system with the notified body of its choice, for the marine equipment concerned. The application shall include:

— the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, its name and address as well;

— a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body;

— all relevant information for the marine equipment category envisaged;

— the documentation concerning the quality system;

— the technical documentation of the approved type and a copy of the EC type-examination certificate.

3.2. The quality system shall ensure that the products are in conformity with the type described in the EC type-examination certificate and that they comply with the requirements of the international instruments that apply to them. All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer shall be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. The quality system documentation shall permit a consistent interpretation of the quality programmes, plans, manuals and records. It shall, in particular, contain an adequate description of:

— the quality objectives and the organisational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to product quality;

— the corresponding manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used;

— the examinations and tests that will be carried out before, during and after manufacture, and the frequency with which they will be carried out;

— the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports on the personnel concerned, etc.; and — the means of monitoring the achievement of the required product quality and the effective operation of the quality system.

3.3. The notified body shall assess the quality system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in point 3.2. In addition to experience in quality management systems, the auditing team shall have at least one member with experience of evaluation in the relevant marine equipment field and marine equipment technology concerned, and knowledge of the applicable requirements of the international instruments. The audit shall include an assessment visit to the manufacturer’s premises. The auditing team shall review the technical documentation referred to in the fifth indent of point 3.1 in order to verify the manufacturer’s ability to identify the relevant requirements of the international instruments and to carry out the necessary examinations with a view to ensuring compliance of the product with those requirements. The decision shall be notified to the manufacturer. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the audit and the reasoned assessment decision.

3.4. The manufacturer shall undertake to fulfil the obligations arising out of the quality system as approved and to maintain it so that it remains adequate and efficient.

3.5. The manufacturer shall keep the notified body that has approved the quality system informed of any intended change to the quality system. The notified body shall evaluate any proposed changes and decide whether the modified quality system will continue to satisfy the requirements referred to in point 3.2 or whether a re-assessment is necessary. It shall notify the manufacturer of its decision. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the examination and the reasoned assessment decision.