PART 9 — Conformity assessment Module H — Conformity based on full quality assurance

1.Conformity based on full quality assurance is the conformity assessment procedure whereby manufacturers fulfil the obligations set out in paragraphs 2 and 5, and ensure and declare on their sole responsibility that the product concerned satisfies the applicable requirements set out in Parts 1 to 6, 16 and 17.

2.Manufacturing The manufacturer shall operate an approved quality system for design, manufacture, final inspection and testing of the product concerned as specified in point 3 and shall be subject to surveillance as specified in point 4.

3.Quality system

(1)The manufacturer shall lodge an application for the assessment of his quality system with the notified body of their choice, for the product concerned. The application shall include:

(a)the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, their name and address as well;

(b)the technical documentation for each type of product intended to be manufactured, containing the elements set out in Part 10 where applicable;

(c)the documentation concerning the quality system;

(d)a written declaration stating that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body.

(2)The quality system shall ensure compliance of the product with the requirements of this Regulation. All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer shall be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. This quality system documentation shall permit a consistent interpretation of the quality programmes, plans, manuals and records. The documentation shall, in particular, contain an adequate description of:

(a)the quality objectives and the organisational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to product design and quality;

(b)the technical design specifications, including standards, that will be applied and, where the relevant harmonised standards will not be applied in full, the means that will be used to ensure that the requirements of this Regulation are met;

(c)the design control and design verification techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used when designing the products pertaining to the product type covered;

(d)the corresponding manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used;

(e)the examinations and tests that will be carried out before, during and after manufacture, and the frequency with which they will be carried out;

(f)the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, reports concerning the qualifications or approvals of the personnel concerned, etc.;

(g)the means of monitoring the achievement of the required design and product quality and the effective operation of the quality system.

(3)The notified body shall assess the quality system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in point 3(2). It shall presume conformity with those requirements in respect of elements of the quality system that comply with the corresponding specifications of the relevant harmonised standard. In addition to experience in quality management systems, the auditing team shall have at least one member experienced as an assessor in the relevant product field and product technology concerned, and knowledge of the applicable requirements of this Regulation. The audit shall include an assessment visit on the manufacturer’s premises. The auditing team shall review the technical documentation referred to in point 3(1)(b) to verify the manufacturer’s ability to identify the applicable requirements of this Regulation and to carry out the necessary examinations with a view to ensuring the product’s compliance with these requirements. The manufacturer or his authorised representative shall be notified of the decision. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the audit and the reasoned assessment decision.

(4)The manufacturer shall undertake to fulfil the obligations arising out of the quality system as approved and to maintain it so that it remains adequate and efficient. The manufacturer shall keep the notified body that has approved the quality system informed of any intended change to the quality system.

(5)The notified body shall evaluate any proposed changes and decide whether the modified quality system will continue to satisfy the requirements referred to in point 3(2) or whether a reassessment is necessary. The notified body shall notify the manufacturer of its decision. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the examination and the reasoned assessment decision.

4.Surveillance under the responsibility of the notified body

(1)The purpose of surveillance is to make sure that the manufacturer duly fulfils the obligations arising out of the approved quality system.

(2)The manufacturer shall, for assessment purposes, allow the notified body access to the design, manufacture, inspection, testing and storage sites, and shall provide it with all necessary information, in particular:

(a)the quality system documentation;

(b)the quality records as provided for by the design part of the quality system, such as results of analyses, calculations, tests, etc.;

(c)the quality records as provided for by the manufacturing part of the quality system, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, reports concerning the qualifications of the personnel, etc.

(3)The notified body shall carry out periodic audits to make sure that the manufacturer maintains and applies the quality system and shall provide the manufacturer with an audit report.

(4)In addition, the notified body may pay unexpected visits to the manufacturer. During such visits, the notified body may, if necessary, carry out UA or UAS tests, or have them carried out, in order to check the proper functioning of the quality system. It shall provide the manufacturer with a visit report and, if tests have been carried out, with a test report.

5.CE marking and EU declaration of conformity

(1)The manufacturer shall affix the CE marking and, when relevant, the UAS class identification label in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of this Regulation and, under the responsibility of the notified body referred to in point 3(1) of this Part, the latter’s identification number to each individual product that satisfies the applicable requirements of this Regulation.

(2)The manufacturer shall draw up a written EU declaration of conformity for each product type and keep it at the disposal of the national authorities for 10 years after the product has been placed on the market. The EU declaration of conformity shall identify the product type for which it has been drawn up. A copy of the EU declaration of conformity shall be made available to the relevant authorities upon request.

6.The manufacturer shall, for a period ending 10 years after the product has been placed on the market, keep at the disposal of the national authorities:

(1)the technical documentation referred to in point 3(1);

(2)the documentation concerning the quality system referred to in point 3(1);

(3)the change referred to in point 3(5), as approved;

(4)the decisions and reports of the notified body referred to in points 3(5), 4(3) and 4(4).

7.Each notified body shall inform its notifying authority of the quality system approvals issued or withdrawn, and shall, periodically or upon request, make available to its notifying authority the list of the quality system approvals it has refused, suspended or otherwise restricted. Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies of the quality system approvals which it has refused, suspended or withdrawn, and, upon request, of quality system approvals which it has issued.

8.Authorised representative The manufacturer’s obligations set out in points 3(1), 3(5), 5 and 6 may be fulfilled by their authorised representative, on their behalf and under their responsibility, provided that this is specified in the mandate.