12.—(1) The Director, with the consent of the Minister, and subject to such conditions as are considered appropriate, may authorise such bodies as the Director thinks fit to carry out prescribed functions in relation to the enforcement of this Act.

(2) The Director shall ensure that bodies so authorised continue to meet the conditions laid down in accordance with subsection (1).

(3) The Director shall withdraw the authorisation in respect of any authorised body if that body fails to meet the conditions stipulated under subsection (1) and shall forthwith inform the Minister thereof.

(4) Subject to the provisions of subsections (1), (2) and (3), neither the Minister nor F12[the National Standards Authority of Ireland] shall incur any liability for any act or default in the discharge or purported discharge of any of the prescribed functions by a body authorised under this Act.