1. The competent authority or body designated by a Member State shall grant a certificate of approval for a livestock vessel upon application, provided that the vessel is:
(a)
operated from the Member State where the application is made;
(b)
is not the subject of an application submitted to or an approval by another competent authority in the same or another Member State;
(c)
has been inspected by the competent authority or body designated by a Member State and found to comply with the requirements of Section 1 of Chapter IV of Annex I regarding the construction and equipment for livestock vessels.
2. The competent authority or body designated by a Member State shall issue each certificate with a number unique in the Member State. The certificate shall be drawn up in at least one of the official language(s) of the Member State of issue and in English. Certificates shall be valid for a period of not more than five years from the date of issue and shall become invalid as soon as the means of transport are modified or refitted in a way that affects the welfare of the animals.
3. The competent authority shall record approved livestock vessels in a manner enabling them to be rapidly identified, in particular in the event of failure to comply with this Regulation.
4. The competent authority shall record the certifications of the approval of livestock vessels in an electronic database, in a manner enabling them to be rapidly identified, in particular in the event of failure to comply with the requirements of this Regulation.