Article 15

Any information communicated in whatever form pursuant to this Directive shall be of a confidential nature. It shall be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy and shall enjoy the protection extended to like information under both the national law of the Member State which received it and the corresponding provisions applying to Community bodies. The information referred to in the first subparagraph may not, in particular, be sent to persons other than those in the Member States or within the Community institutions whose duties require that they have access to it. Nor many it be used for purposes other than those provided for in this Directive, unless the authority supplying it has expressly agreed and insofar as the provisions in force, in the Member State where the authority which received it is situated do not object to such communication or use. The information provided for under this Directive shall nonly be communicated to the applicant authority to the extent there is nothing to the contrary in the provisions in force in the Member State or requested authority. Member States shall ensure that information obtained under the mutual assistance scheme remains confidential, even after a matter has been closed. Paragraph 1 shall not impede the use of information obtained pursuant to this Directive in any legal actions or proceedings subsequently instituted for failure to comply with legislation on veterinary or zootechnical matters on or in the prevention and discovery of irregularities detrimental to Community funds. The competent authority of the Member State which supplied this information shall be informed forthwith of such utilization.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-02 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.