Council Regulation (EC) No 856/2008 of 24 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas as regards the numbering of visas

‘3 In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6(2), it may be decided that the specifications referred to in Article 2 shall be secret and not be published. In that case they shall be made available only to the bodies designated by the Member States as responsible for the printing and to persons duly authorised by a Member State or the Commission.’;

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States shall apply this Regulation at the latest on 1 May 2009. Member States may use up their remaining stocks in consular offices not connected to the Visa Information System (VIS).