1. A registrant may start or continue the manufacture or import of a substance or production or import of an article, if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency in accordance with Article 20(2) within the three weeks after the submission date, without prejudice to Article 27(8). In the case of registrations of phase-in substances, such a registrant may continue the manufacture or import of the substance or production or import of an article, if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency in accordance with Article 20(2) within the three weeks after the submission date or, if submitted within the two-month period before the relevant deadline of Article 23, if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency in accordance with Article 20(2) within the three months from that deadline, without prejudice to Article 27(8). In the case of an update of a registration according to Article 22 a registrant may continue the manufacture or import of the substance, or the production or import of the article, if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency in accordance with Article 20(2) within the three weeks after the update date, without prejudice to Article 27(8).

2. If the Agency has informed the registrant that he is to submit further information in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 20(2), the registrant may start the manufacture or import of a substance or production or import of an article if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency within the three weeks after receipt by the Agency of the further information necessary to complete his registration, without prejudice to Article 27(8).

3. If a lead registrant submits parts of the registration on behalf of one or more other registrants, as provided for in Articles 11 or 19, any of the other registrants may manufacture or import the substance or produce or import the articles only after the expiry of the time-limit laid down in paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article and provided that there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency in respect of the registration of the lead registrant acting on behalf of the others and his own registration.