Assistance on the basis of information provided by third countries

1.   When competent authorities receive information from a third country indicating non-compliance with rules referred to in Article 1(2) or a risk to human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or, as regards GMOs and plant protection products, also to the environment, they shall, without delay:
(a)
notify such information to the competent authorities in other concerned Member States; and
(b)
communicate such information to the Commission where it is or may be relevant at Union level.
2.   Information obtained through official controls and investigations performed in accordance with this Regulation may be communicated to the third country referred to in paragraph 1, provided that:
(a)
the competent authorities which have provided the information consent to such communication;
(b)
the third country has undertaken to provide the assistance necessary to gather evidence of practices that are or appear to be non-compliant with Union rules or that pose a risk to humans, animals or plants or the environment; and
(c)
relevant Union and national rules applicable to the communication of personal data to third countries are complied with.