12. (1) (a) A company which, immediately before the relevant date holds a valid certificate issued by a certification body in the United Kingdom under Article 8 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 304/2008 of 2 April 2008⁶ in respect of an activity referred to in Article 2(2) of that Commission Regulation is deemed, for the purpose of carrying out that activity, to hold an equivalent certificate.

(b) A company which, immediately before the relevant date holds a valid certificate issued by a certification body in the United Kingdom under Article 6 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2067 of 17 November 2015⁷ in respect of an activity referred to in Article 2(2) of that Commission Regulation is deemed, for the purpose of carrying out that activity, to hold an equivalent certificate.

(2) A company which holds an equivalent certificate may carry out the activity to which the equivalent certificate relates until the date that is 6 months from the relevant date or the date on which a certificate is issued by the Minister under subsection (3), whichever is earlier.

(3) A company which holds an equivalent certificate shall apply to the Minister not later than 4 months after the relevant date for the issue by the Minister of a certificate in respect of the activity to which the equivalent certificate relates and such certificate shall, subject to subsection (4), be issued by the Minister not later than 6 months after the relevant date.

(4) The Minister shall issue a certificate where an application is made in accordance with the procedures established by the Minister in that behalf.

(5) A certificate issued by the Minister under this section shall be valid until the end of the calendar year in which it is issued.