Commission controls in Member States
Article 116
1. Commission experts shall perform controls, including audits, in each Member State to: (a) verify the application of the rules referred to in Article 1(2) and those provided for in this Regulation; (b) verify the functioning of national control systems in the areas governed by the rules referred to in Article 1(2) and those provided for in this Regulation, and of the competent authorities which operate them; (c) investigate and collect information: (i) on official controls and enforcement practices in the areas governed by the rules referred to in Article 1(2) and those provided for in this Regulation; (ii) on important or recurring problems with the application or enforcement of the rules referred to in Article 1(2); (iii) in relation to emergency situations, emerging problems or new developments in the Member States in the areas governed by the rules referred to in Article 1(2) and those provided for in this Regulation. 2. The controls provided for in paragraph 1 shall be organised in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States and shall be performed on a regular basis. 3. The controls provided for in paragraph 1 may include on-the-spot verifications. The Commission experts may accompany the staff of the competent authorities performing official controls. 4. Experts from the Member States may assist the Commission experts. National experts accompanying Commission experts shall be given the same rights of access as the Commission experts.