Article 5
Amendment to Directive 96/98/EC Directive 96/98/EC is hereby amended as follows: 1. in Article 2, points (c), (d) and (n), the words "in force on 1 January 2001" shall be replaced by "in its up-to-date version"; 2. Article 17 shall be replaced by the following: "Article 17 This Directive may be amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18(2), in order: - to apply subsequent amendments of international instruments for the purposes of this Directive, - to update Annex A, both by introducing new equipment and by transferring equipment from Annex A.2 to Annex A.1 and vice versa, - to add the possibility of using modules B and C and module H for equipment listed in Annex A.1, and by amending the columns for the conformity assessment modules, - to include other standardisation organisations in the definition of 'testing standards' in Article 2. The conventions and testing standards referred to in points (c), (d) and (n) of Article 2 shall be understood without prejudice to any measures taken in application of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 November 2002, establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS)(23)."; 3. Article 18 shall be replaced by the following: "Article 18 1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) created by Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(24) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months. 3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure."