1. Recognised organisations shall set up by 17 June 2011 and maintain an independent quality assessment and certification entity in accordance with the applicable international quality standards where the relevant professional associations working in the shipping industry may participate in an advisory capacity.

2. The quality assessment and certification entity shall carry out the following tasks:

frequent and regular assessment of the quality management systems of recognised organisations, in accordance with the ISO 9001 quality standard criteria;

certification of the quality management systems of recognised organisations, including organisations for which recognition has been requested in accordance with Article 3;

issue of interpretations of internationally recognised quality management standards, in particular to take account of the specific features of the nature and obligations of recognised organisations; and

adoption of individual and collective recommendations for the improvement of recognised organisations’ processes and internal control mechanisms.

3. The quality assessment and certification entity shall have the necessary governance and competences to act independently of the recognised organisations and shall have the necessary means to carry out its duties effectively and to the highest professional standards, safeguarding the independence of the persons performing them. The quality assessment and certification entity will lay down its working methods and rules of procedure.

4. The quality assessment and certification entity may request assistance from other external quality assessment bodies.

5. The quality assessment and certification entity shall provide the interested parties, including flag States and the Commission, with full information on its annual work plan as well as on its findings and recommendations, particularly with regard to situations where safety might have been compromised.

6. The quality assessment and certification entity shall be periodically assessed by the Commission.

7. The Commission shall report to the Member States on the results and follow-up of its assessment.

REGULATION (EC) No 391/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations (Recast) ANNEX I ANNEX II