With the exception of research requiring express authorisation, if the competent authority does not respond to a request for substantial modification from the sponsor, this will be deemed to constitute authorisation on expiry of a period of thirty-five days from receipt of all the information required concerning this request. The Commission may notify the sponsor of its decision before the expiry of the aforementioned period. This period may be extended by a maximum of ten days if the competent authority considers that additional information is required to enable it to reach a decision on the application. In this case, it will inform the sponsor of the duration of and reasons for the extension. If the competent authority considers that the application for a variation cannot be accepted, it will inform the sponsor and set a time limit within which the sponsor must submit its observations. This period does not suspend the period allowed to the competent authority to decide on the application. If no response is received within the time limit, the developer is deemed to have withdrawn his application.
The competent authority forwards its decision to the Data Protection Committee for information.