1.Member States shall appoint one or more competent authorities and shall notify the Commission of the appointments of such authorities, giving details of any division of powers among them. Member States shall also ensure that this Directive is applied.
2.No listing particulars may be published until they have been approved by the competent authorities.
3.The competent authorities shall approve the publication of listing particulars only if they are of the opinion that they satisfy all the requirements set out in this Directive. Member States shall ensure that the competent authorities have the powers necessary for them to carry out their task.
4.This Directive shall not affect the competent authorities' liability, which shall continue to be governed solely by the national law.