Sch 10 para 7 System of certification for entities in charge of maintenance
(1) Certification must be based on an assessment of the ability of the entity in charge of maintenance to meet the relevant requirements in Part 4 and to apply them consistently. It must include a system of surveillance to ensure continuing compliance with the applicable requirements after award of the UK-issued ECM certificate. (2) The entities in charge of maintenance must apply for certification using the form in Part 2 of Schedule 9 and providing documentary evidence of the procedures specified in Part 4. They must promptly submit all supplementary information requested by the certification body. In assessing applications, certification bodies must apply the requirements and assessment criteria set out in Part 4. (3) The certification body must take a decision no later than 4 months after all the information required and any supplementary information requested has been submitted to it by the entity in charge of maintenance applying for the certificate. The certification body must undertake the necessary assessment at the site or sites of the entity in charge of maintenance prior to the award of the certificate. The decision on the award of the certificate must be communicated to the entity in charge of maintenance using the relevant form in Part 4 of Schedule 9. (4) A UK-issued ECM certificate is valid for a period up to 5 years. The holder of the certificate must without delay inform the certification body of all significant changes in the circumstances applying at the time the original certificate was awarded to allow the certification body to decide whether to amend, renew or revoke it. (5) The certification body must set out in detail the reasons on which each of its decisions is based. The certification body must notify its decision and the reasons to the entity in charge of maintenance, together with an indication of the process, time limit for appeal and the contact details of the appeal body. (6) The certification body must conduct surveillance at least once a year at selected sites, geographically and functionally representative of all the activities of those entities in charge of maintenance it has certified, to verify that the entities still satisfy the criteria set out in Part 4. (7) If the certification body finds that an entity in charge of maintenance no longer satisfies the requirements on the basis of which it issued the UK-issued ECM certificate, it must agree an improvement plan with the entity in charge of maintenance, or limit the scope of application of the certificate, or suspend the certificate, depending on the degree of non-compliance. In the event of continuous non-compliance with the certification requirements or any improvement plan, the certification body must limit the scope of or revoke the UK-issued ECM certificate, giving reasons for its decision, together with an indication of the process and time limit for appeal and the contact details of the appeal body. (8) When a railway undertaking or an infrastructure manager applies for a safety certificate or safety authorisation, the following provisions apply concerning the freight wagons it uses— (a) where the freight wagons are maintained by the applicant, either the applicant must include as part of its application a valid UK-issued ECM certificate, if available, or its capacity as entity in charge of maintenance must be assessed as part of its application for a safety certificate or safety authorisation; (b) where the freight wagons are maintained by parties other than the applicant, the applicant must ensure, through its safety management system, the control of all risks related to its activity, including the use of such wagons, whereby, in particular, the provisions of paragraph 5 apply. (9) Certification bodies and national safety authorities must conduct an active exchange of views in all circumstances in order to avoid any duplication of assessment.