If the manufacturer, importer or downstream user wishes to contest the request made to him, he shall refer the matter to the Minister for Health and send a copy of his appeal to the requesting body. This appeal must be lodged before the expiry of the deadline set by the applicant for providing the information. The Minister responsible for health takes a decision and notifies the manufacturer, importer or downstream user and the poison control centre or the applicant organisation of its decision within fifteen days. In the absence of notification within this period, the challenge is deemed to have been rejected.
Where the requesting body has indicated an emergency situation in its request, the appeal submitted to the Minister does not exempt the manufacturer, importer or downstream user from providing the information requested within the prescribed time limit.