Article 21Initiation of a qualified trust service

In order to verify the compliance of the trust service provider with the requirements laid down in Article 21 of Directive (EU) 2022/2555, the supervisory body shall request the competent authorities designated or established pursuant to Article 8(1) of that Directive to carry out supervisory actions in that regard and to provide information about the outcome without undue delay and in any event within two months of receipt of that request. If the verification is not concluded within two months of the notification, those competent authorities shall inform the supervisory body specifying the reasons for the delay and the period within which the verification is to be concluded.

Where the supervisory body concludes that the trust service provider and the trust services provided by it comply with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, the supervisory body shall grant qualified status to the trust service provider and the trust services it provides and inform the body referred to in Article 22(3) for the purposes of updating the trusted lists referred to in Article 22(1), not later than three months after notification in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article.

Where the verification is not concluded within three months of notification, the supervisory body shall inform the trust service provider specifying the reasons for the delay and the period within which the verification is to be concluded.

1. Where trust service providers intend to start providing a qualified trust service, they shall notify the supervisory body of their intention together with a conformity assessment report issued by a conformity assessment body confirming the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in this Regulation and in Article 21 of Directive (EU) 2022/2555.

2. The supervisory body shall verify whether the trust service provider and the trust services provided by it comply with the requirements laid down in this Regulation and, in particular, with the requirements for qualified trust service providers and for the qualified trust services they provide.

3. Qualified trust service providers may begin to provide the qualified trust service after the qualified status has been indicated in the trusted lists referred to in Article 22(1).

4. By 21 May 2025, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish the formats and procedures of the notification and verification for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).