It should be very rare for the three month deadline to prove
difficult, as responding to AC-e requests is a legal obligation and
should be treated as a priority. However if you are unable to do
so, you must inform the NVC (ACCT for alcohol) as soon as possible
with your reasons and a proposed revised response date. The NVC
will contact the OMS to negotiate an alternative response date, and
you will be advised of the outcome.
In some circumstances an update may be an appropriate
response (e.g. where an in-depth enquiry has resulted from the
receipt of the OMS request). Providing an update may lead to more
effective cooperation with the enquiry: the OMS may provide further
information or propose a joint control to deal with any
irregularities identified.
Please do your utmost to respond within the dates given,
performance figures are published by the Commission and OMS will be
much less likely to prioritise future UK requests and work
meaningfully with us if we do not appear too concerned in providing
assistance ourselves.
