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RGPD

Article 64

Opinion of the Board

1.   The Board shall issue an opinion where a competent supervisory authority intends to adopt any of the measures below. To that end, the competent supervisory authority shall communicate the draft decision to the Board, when it:

(a)

aims to adopt a list of the processing operations subject to the requirement for a data protection impact assessment pursuant to Article 35(4);

(b)

concerns a matter pursuant to Article 40(7) whether a draft code of conduct or an amendment or extension to a code of conduct complies with this Regulation;

(c)

aims to approve the criteria for accreditation of a body pursuant to Article 41(3) or a certification body pursuant to Article 43(3);

(d)

aims to determine standard data protection clauses referred to in point (d) of Article 46(2) and in Article 28(8);

(e)

aims to authorise contractual clauses referred to in point (a) of Article 46(3); or

(f)

aims to approve binding corporate rules within the meaning of Article 47.

2.   Any supervisory authority, the Chair of the Board or the Commission may request that any matter of general application or producing effects in more than one Member State be examined by the Board with a view to obtaining an opinion, in particular where a competent supervisory authority does not comply with the obligations for mutual assistance in accordance with Article 61 or for joint operations in accordance with Article 62.

3.   In the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Board shall issue an opinion on the matter submitted to it provided that it has not already issued an opinion on the same matter. That opinion shall be adopted within eight weeks by simple majority of the members of the Board. That period may be extended by a further six weeks, taking into account the complexity of the subject matter. Regarding the draft decision referred to in paragraph 1 circulated to the members of the Board in accordance with paragraph 5, a member which has not objected within a reasonable period indicated by the Chair, shall be deemed to be in agreement with the draft decision.

4.   Supervisory authorities and the Commission shall, without undue delay, communicate by electronic means to the Board, using a standardised format any relevant information, including as the case may be a summary of the facts, the draft decision, the grounds which make the enactment of such measure necessary, and the views of other supervisory authorities concerned.

5.   The Chair of the Board shall, without undue, delay inform by electronic means:

(a)

the members of the Board and the Commission of any relevant information which has been communicated to it using a standardised format. The secretariat of the Board shall, where necessary, provide translations of relevant information; and

(b)

the supervisory authority referred to, as the case may be, in paragraphs 1 and 2, and the Commission of the opinion and make it public.

6.   The competent supervisory authority shall not adopt its draft decision referred to in paragraph 1 within the period referred to in paragraph 3.

7.   The supervisory authority referred to in paragraph 1 shall take utmost account of the opinion of the Board and shall, within two weeks after receiving the opinion, communicate to the Chair of the Board by electronic means whether it will maintain or amend its draft decision and, if any, the amended draft decision, using a standardised format.

8.   Where the supervisory authority concerned informs the Chair of the Board within the period referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article that it does not intend to follow the opinion of the Board, in whole or in part, providing the relevant grounds, Article 65(1) shall apply.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a supervisory authority have to ask the Board for an opinion?

Article 64(1) requires a competent supervisory authority to communicate its draft decision to the Board and obtain an opinion before adopting any of these measures:

  • a list of the processing operations subject to the requirement for a data protection impact assessment (Article 35(4))
  • a decision on whether a draft code of conduct, or an amendment or extension to one, complies with the Regulation (Article 40(7))
  • approval of the criteria for accreditation of a body (Article 41(3)) or a certification body (Article 43(3))
  • standard data protection clauses (Article 46(2)(d) and Article 28(8))
  • authorisation of contractual clauses (Article 46(3)(a))
  • approval of binding corporate rules (Article 47)
How long does the Board have to issue its opinion?
The opinion must be adopted within eight weeks by simple majority of the members of the Board. That period can be extended by a further six weeks, taking into account the complexity of the subject matter. While that period runs, the competent supervisory authority may not adopt its draft decision. A member who does not object within a reasonable period indicated by the Chair is deemed to be in agreement with the draft decision.
Who else can bring a matter before the Board, besides the authority that drafted the decision?
Any supervisory authority, the Chair of the Board or the Commission can request that a matter of general application, or one producing effects in more than one Member State, is examined by the Board with a view to obtaining an opinion. Article 64(2) mentions in particular the case where a competent supervisory authority does not comply with the obligations for mutual assistance under Article 61 or for joint operations under Article 62. The Board then issues an opinion provided it has not already issued one on the same matter.
What happens after the Board issues its opinion?

The Chair communicates the opinion to the supervisory authority and the Commission and makes it public. The authority must take utmost account of the opinion and, within two weeks of receiving it, tell the Chair by electronic means whether it will maintain or amend its draft decision, sending the amended draft if there is one.

If the authority informs the Chair that it does not intend to follow the opinion, in whole or in part, giving the relevant grounds, Article 65(1) applies.