Article 6
Combining of requests 1. If several requests for opinions which partly or completely overlap are submitted to the Authority, the Authority may propose to the applicants that their requests be amended in accordance with Article 29(4) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. 2. If several requests for opinions which partly or completely overlap are received during a specific period of time, which shall be set by the Authority taking account of the circumstances but shall not exceed 45 days, the Authority shall propose amendments with a view to reaching agreement with the applicants on a joint amended request. The Authority's assessment of the period of time for application of this Article shall not prejudice the priority to be given to urgent situations as referred to in Article 8, and in particular the absolute priority of requests from the Commission in urgent situations. 3. Where consultation leads to agreement among the applicants on a joint amended request, the Authority shall forward this to the scientific committee or a permanent scientific panel of the Authority for preparation of an opinion. Otherwise, the different requests, accompanied by any amendments agreed to by the applicant concerned, shall be forwarded to the scientific committee or a permanent scientific panel for preparation of an opinion. An overall opinion taking account of the contents of the various requests shall be delivered. 4. If a request which partly or completely overlaps with a request already forwarded to the scientific committee or a permanent scientific group is submitted to the Authority, the Authority shall ensure that new scientific elements which might be introduced by this new request are considered in connection with the request for an opinion already forwarded.