The information and data provided for in articles R. 444-18 to R. 444-20 are collected from the professionals mentioned in article L. 444-1 by the national professional bodies listed in Article R. 444-17, which transmit them annually, either by secure electronic communication or by any other appropriate means, to the authorities mentioned in Article L. 444-5 by the national professional bodies listed in Article R. 444-17, in accordance with the procedures set out in this Article and, at the latest, by a date set by joint order of the Ministers of Justice and the Economy. The transmission shall include both the relevant information and data originating from professionals and that resulting from their aggregation by the competent departments of the national professional bodies.
The national professional bodies shall ensure, by any means, that the information and data collected referred to in the first paragraph cannot be used or disclosed in violation of secrets protected by law, in particular business secrets. Each professional body shall designate the person or persons responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of such information and data.
The national professional bodies shall draw up, each insofar as it is concerned, directives governing the conditions of access, use and storage of such information and data and the traceability of their consultation, with a view to ensuring their security and confidentiality.
Without prejudice to their own obligations, the persons specially authorised by each of the national professional bodies to ensure the collection, consistency verification of this information and data emanating from the professionals mentioned in article L. 444-1 as well as their aggregation in accordance with article R. 444-19 and their transmission to the authorities concerned are bound by an obligation of confidentiality with regard to this information and data. They alone have access to useful information and data originating from professionals collected pursuant to article L. 444-5.
The persons referred to in the previous paragraph do not exercise the profession covered by the body on whose behalf they carry out the operations referred to in that same paragraph.
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