1. Each Member State shall, unless to do so would not be justified, confer on designated bodies, European Consumer Centres, consumer organisations and associations, and, where appropriate, trader associations, that have the necessary expertise, the power to issue an alert to the competent authorities of the relevant Member States and the Commission of suspected infringements covered by this Regulation and to provide information available to them set out in Article 26(3) ('external alert'). Each Member State shall without delay notify the Commission of the list of those entities and of any changes to it.

2. The Commission, after consulting the Member States, shall confer on associations representing consumer, and, where appropriate, trader, interests at a Union level the power to issue an external alert.

3. The competent authorities shall not be bound to initiate a procedure or take any other action in response to an external alert. Entities issuing external alerts shall ensure that the information provided is correct, up to date and accurate, and shall correct the notified information without delay, or withdraw it as appropriate.