(a) A preliminary notification that an inspection may have to take place will be made as soon as possible.

(b) Within 15-calendar days, the relevant authority will acknowledge receipt of the request and confirm its ability to carry out the inspection. In the European Community (EC), requests will be sent directly to the relevant authority, with a copy to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). If the authority receiving the request cannot carry out the inspection as requested, the requesting authority shall have the right to conduct the inspection.

(c) Reports of preapproval inspections will be sent within 45-calendar days of the request that transmitted the appropriate information and detailed the precise issues to be addressed during the inspection. A shorter time may be necessary in exceptional cases and these will be described in the request.