Primary repositories
Article 26
1. Each manufacturer and importer shall ensure the establishment of a primary repository. To that end each manufacturer and importer shall contract an independent third party provider, in accordance with the contractual requirements set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/573 ( 7 ) . The selection of the independent third party shall take place in accordance with the procedural rules laid down in Annex I, Part A. 2. Each primary repository shall exclusively host information which relates to the tobacco products of the manufacturer or importer who contracted the repository. 3. Whenever data are received by the primary repository on the basis of a reporting activity, or for any other permitted reason, it shall be forwarded to the secondary repository instantaneously. 4. In forwarding all data received to the secondary repository, the primary repositories shall use the data format and data exchange modalities defined by the secondary repository. 5. Primary repositories shall store the data in accordance with the common data dictionary provided by the secondary repository. 6. Member States, the Commission, and external auditors approved by the Commission shall be able to carry out basic query requests in relation to all data stored in a primary repository.