Article 7
Processing of the initial application 1. An application for access to a document held by the Committee shall be processed on the same day as it is registered by the official mail/records service, which must acknowledge receipt of the application, draft a reply and deliver the document within the prescribed time limit. 2. When the application relates to a document drawn up by the Committee to which one of the exceptions laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is applicable, the mail/records service shall contact the service or body that is the originator of the document, which shall suggest the course of action to be taken within five working days. 3. When the doubt as to disclosure concerns documents from third parties, the Committee shall consult the latter giving them five working days in which to make their position known with a view to assessing whether one of the exceptions laid down in Article 4 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is applicable. If no reply is received within five working days, the Committee shall carry on with the procedure.