1.   This Regulation shall apply to personnel carrying out the following activities with regard to fire protection systems:

2.   It shall also apply to companies carrying out the following activities with regard to fire protection systems:

3.   This Regulation shall not apply to any manufacturing and repairing activity undertaken at manufacturers’ sites for containers or associated components of stationary fire protection systems containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases.

1.   Personnel carrying out the activities referred to in Article 2(1) shall hold a certificate as referred to in Article 5 or Article 6.

2.   Paragraph 1 shall not apply for a maximum period of one year to personnel undertaking one of the activities referred to in Article 2(1), enrolled in a training course for the purpose of obtaining a certificate covering the relevant activity, provided that they carry out the activity under the supervision of a person holding a certificate covering the relevant activity.

3.   Member States may decide that paragraph 1 shall not apply for a period which shall not exceed the date referred to in Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006, to personnel undertaking one or more of the activities provided for in Article 2(1) of this Regulation before the date referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006.

Such personnel shall, for the period referred to in the first subparagraph, be deemed certified as regards those activities for the purposes of the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006.

1.   A certification body as referred to in Article 10 shall issue a certificate to personnel who have passed a theoretical and practical examination organised by an evaluation body as referred to in Article 11, covering the minimum skills and knowledge set out in the Annex.

2.   The certificate shall contain at least the following:

3.   Where an existing examination-based certification system covers the minimum skills and knowledge set out in the Annex and meets the requirements of Articles 10 and 11, but the related attestation does not contain the elements laid down in paragraph 2 of this Article, a certification body referred to in Article 10 may issue a certificate to the holder of this qualification without repeating examination.

4.   Where an existing examination based certification system meets the requirements of Articles 10 and 11 and partially covers the minimum skills as set out in the Annex, certification bodies may issue a certificate provided that the applicant passes a supplementary examination of the skills and knowledge not covered by the existing certification organised by an evaluation body referred to in Article 11.

1.   Member States may apply a system of interim certification for personnel referred to in Article 2(1) in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3, or paragraphs 2 and 3, of this Article.

The interim certificates referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall expire on 4 July 2010 at the latest.

2.   Personnel holding an attestation issued under existing qualification schemes for activities referred to in Article 2(1) shall be deemed holders of an interim certificate.

Member States shall identify attestations qualifying as interim certificates for the activities referred to in Article 2(1) which the holder is entitled to carry out.

3.   Personnel with professional experience in the activities, acquired before the date referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006, shall be issued with an interim certificate by an entity designated by the Member State.

The interim certificate shall indicate the activities covered and the expiry date.

1.   Companies referred to in Article 2(2) shall hold a certificate as referred to in Article 8 or Article 9.

2.   Member States may decide that paragraph 1 shall not apply for a period which shall not exceed the date referred to in Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006, to companies involved in one or more of the activities provided for in Article 2(2) of this Regulation before the date referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006.

1.   A certification body as referred to in Article 10 shall issue a certificate to a company for one or more of the activities referred to in Article 2(2) provided that it fulfils the following requirements:

2.   The certificate shall contain at least the following:

1.   Member States may apply an interim certification system for companies referred to in Article 2(2) in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3, or paragraphs 2 and 3, of this Article.

The interim certificates referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall expire on 4 July 2010 at the latest.

2.   Companies certified under existing certification schemes for activities referred to in Article 2(2) shall be deemed holders of an interim certificate.

Member States shall identify attestations qualifying as interim certificates for the activities referred to in Article 2(2) which the holder is entitled to carry out.

3.   Companies employing personnel holding a certificate for the activities for which certification is required for the purposes of Article 2(2) shall be issued with an interim certificate by an entity designated by the Member State.

The interim certificate shall indicate the activities which the holder is entitled to carry out and the expiry date.

1.   A certification body shall be provided for by a national law or regulation, or designated by the competent authority of a Member State or other entities entitled to do so, as being allowed to issue certificates to personnel or companies involved in one or more of the activities referred to in Article 2.

The certification body shall be independent and impartial in carrying out its activities.

2.   The certification body shall establish and apply procedures for the issuance, suspending and withdrawing of certificates.

3.   The certification body shall maintain records that allow verifying the status of a certified person or company. The records shall demonstrate that the certification process has been effectively fulfilled. Records shall be kept for a minimum period of five years.

1.   An evaluation body designated by the competent authority of a Member State or other entities entitled to do so, shall organise examinations for the personnel referred to in Article 2(1). A certification body as referred to in Article 10 may also qualify as an evaluation body.

The evaluation body shall be independent and impartial in carrying out its activities.

2.   Examinations shall be planned and structured in a manner which ensures that the minimum skills and knowledge set out in the Annex are covered.

3.   The evaluation body shall adopt reporting procedures and keep records to enable the documentation of the individual and overall results of the evaluation.

4.   The evaluation body shall ensure that examiners assigned to a test have due knowledge of the relevant examination methods and examination documents as well as an appropriate competence in the field to be examined. It shall also ensure that the necessary equipment, tools and materials are available for the practical tests.

1.   By 4 July 2008, Member States shall notify the Commission of their intention to apply an interim certification system according to Articles 6 or 9, or both.

2.   By 4 January 2009, Member States shall notify the Commission, where applicable, of designated entities entitled to issue interim certificates and of enacted national provisions according to which documents issued by existing certification systems are deemed as interim certificates.

3.   By 4 January 2009, Member States shall notify the Commission of the names and contact details of certification bodies for personnel and companies covered by Article 10 and of the titles of certificates for personnel complying with the requirements of Article 5 and companies complying with the requirements of Article 8, using the format established by Regulation (EC) No 308/2008.

4.   Member States shall update the notification submitted pursuant to paragraph 3, with relevant new information, and submit it to the Commission without delay.

1.   Mutual recognition of certificates issued in other Member States shall only apply to certificates issued in accordance with Article 5 for personnel and Article 8 for companies.

2.   Member States may require holders of certificates issued in another Member State to provide a translation of the certificate in another official Community language.