Competent authority

1.   Each Member State shall designate a competent authority at ministerial level responsible for:
(a)
the issuing, reviewing and withdrawing of accreditation of paying agencies referred to in Article 9(2);
(b)
the designation and the issuing, reviewing and withdrawing of the accreditation of the coordinating body referred to in Article 10;
(c)
designating and withdrawing the designation of a certification body as referred to in Article 12, and ensuring that there is always a certification body designated;
(d)
carrying out the tasks assigned to the competent authority under this Chapter.
2.   On the basis of an examination of the minimum conditions to be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 11(1), point (a), the competent authority shall, by way of a formal act, decide on the issuing or, following a review, the withdrawal of the accreditation of the paying agency and on the designation and accreditation and the withdrawal of the accreditation of the coordinating body.
3.   The competent authority shall, by way of a formal act, decide on the designation, and the withdrawal of the designation, of the certification body, while ensuring that there is always a certification body designated.
4.   The competent authority shall inform the Commission without delay of all accreditations and withdrawals of accreditation of the paying agency and of the designation and accreditation and withdrawal of accreditation of the coordinating body, as well as of the designation, and the withdrawal of the designation, of the certification body.