Advice on test products
Article 10
1. Where the panel is asked to provide an opinion on a test product, the Chair of the panel shall inform all members. He or she may appoint a rapporteur from among the members to coordinate the examination of a particular product. The Chair shall submit a final report to the Commission and, where applicable, the requesting Member State. 2. Where the panel considers it necessary for the purposes of providing an opinion, it shall request input from the technical group established in accordance with Article 12. In forming its opinion, the panel shall have regard to the information and data obtained from the technical group. It may also have regard to any other information at its disposal that it considers authoritative and relevant, including information resulting from reporting obligations pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 2014/40/EU. 3. With respect to the data and information provided by the technical group, the panel shall, in particular: (a) verify whether the technical group respected applicable rules and scientific standards; (b) assess the data and information, in particular to determine whether they are sufficient to reach a conclusion or whether additional data and information are needed; (c) request such clarifications from the technical group as may be necessary to reach a conclusion. 4. If the panel considers the data or information to be insufficient or has doubts as to whether the applicable rules and standards were respected, it shall consult the Commission and, where applicable, the requesting Member State. Where it is considered necessary, the panel may ask the technical group to repeat certain tests taking into account the panel's comments. 5. Where the panel is satisfied that applicable rules and standards were respected, including, where applicable, following the procedure laid down in paragraph 4, and that the data and information are sufficient to reach a conclusion, it shall proceed to deliver an opinion in accordance with paragraph 2. 6. The panel shall submit its opinion to the Commission and any referring Member States within three months of the date of receipt of the request or by a date agreed with the Commission or the requesting Member State.