When, on the occasion of the implementation of Article 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004, urgent action is essential to protect human health or the environment, pending a final decision by the European Commission, the Director General of the Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé may suspend the use of a medicinal product which is the subject of a marketing authorisation granted pursuant to the said Regulation, on his own initiative or at the request of the European Commission. The decision of the Director General of the Agency shall state the reasons on which it is based. The marketing authorisation holder shall be informed of the decision in advance and, if the situation so permits, shall be invited to submit his observations.
When acting on his own initiative, the Director General of the Agency shall inform the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency of the reasons for the measure at the latest on the first working day following his decision.