26Suspension or cancellation of certification authority

26 Suspension or cancellation of certification authority

26 Suspension or cancellation of certification authority

(1) The Secretary may—

(a) suspend a certification authority if of the opinion that there are grounds for cancelling the authority, by serving a show cause notice on the holder of the authority, or

(b) cancel a certification authority at any time and for any reason (including failure to comply with a show cause notice), by serving a written notice on the holder of the authority.

(2) A show cause notice is a notice requiring the holder of the certification authority to show cause why the authority should not be cancelled on the grounds specified in the notice.

(3) Without limiting the grounds that may be specified in a show cause notice, grounds may include that the holder of the certification authority has failed to comply with a condition of the authority.

(4) A show cause notice is to be in writing and is to specify a period of not less than 21 days after service of the notice as the period—

(a) during which the certification authority is suspended, and

(b) within which the holder must show cause as required by the notice.

(5) The holder on whom a show cause notice is served may, within the period allowed by the notice, make written submissions to the Secretary in respect of the matters to which the notice relates.

(6) The Secretary must consider any submissions made in accordance with subsection (5) before the Secretary may cancel the certification authority under this section.