4. After Article 9 there shall be inserted the following Article—
“Approval of persons to verify equipment manufactured etc. by them
9A.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where, as regards a person who carries on business (whether in Northern Ireland or elsewhere) as a manufacturer, installer or repairer of equipment to which Article 9 applies, the Department—
(a)is satisfied that the person would, if approved under this Article, satisfy the requirements set out in Part II of Schedule 2A; and
(b)considers the person a fit and proper person to be so approved.
(2) The Department may approve the person for the purpose of—
(a)testing any equipment to which Article 9 applies and which is manufactured, installed or repaired by him;
(b)passing any such equipment as fit for use for trade; and
(c)stamping any such equipment with the prescribed stamp.
(3) Before granting an approval under this Article, the Department may carry out such audits and inspections of the person’s systems and procedures as it considers necessary to establish that the conditions of the approval would be observed.
(4) Schedule 2A (which relates to approvals under this Article and matters connected with such approvals) shall have effect.
(5) In that Schedule “approval” means an approval under this Article and “the verifier”, in relation to such an approval, shall be construed accordingly.”.