Designation of technical services
Article 47
1. Approval authorities shall designate technical services for one or more of the following categories of activities, in accordance with their fields of competence: (a) category A : carrying out the tests referred to in this Regulation in the facilities belonging to the technical service in question; (b) category B : supervising the tests referred to in this Regulation, where such tests are performed in the facilities of a manufacturer or of a third party; (c) category C : assessing and monitoring on a regular basis the manufacturer's procedures for ensuring the conformity of production; (d) category D : supervising or performing tests or inspections for ensuring the conformity of production. 2. An approval authority may act as a technical service for one or more of the categories of activities referred to in paragraph 1. 3. Technical services of a third country, other than those designated in accordance with this Article, may be the subject of a notification pursuant to Article 50 where such a recognition of technical services is provided for by a bilateral agreement concluded between the Union and the third country concerned. However, a technical service established in accordance with Article 45(2) may establish subsidiaries in third countries, provided that the subsidiaries are directly managed and controlled by that technical service.