14Period of approval

14 Period of approval

(1) In the absence of exceptional circumstances, the Minister must not determine a period of approval which exceeds: (a) the period of time for which the laboratory can be expected to meet relevant standards stated in the most recent assessment report; or (b) the period of accreditation under the most recent accreditation action. (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Minister must not grant an approval in reliance on an advisory report for longer than 6 months. (3) In exceptional circumstances, the Minister may grant extensions to an approval granted in reliance on an advisory report provided that: (a) each extension is supported by a further advisory report; and (b) the cumulative period of those extensions does not exceed 6 months.

Note: See also paragraph 23DN (2A) (c) of the Act.