• The competent minister may make a Designated Investigative Organization perform the whole or a part of the Minister’s investigative functions related to application certification business.
  (Paragraph 1, Article 17 of the e-Signature Act)
• If the Designated Investigative Organization performs the Investigation, it shall, without delay, notify the competent minister* of the results of such Investigation.
  (Paragraph 4, Article 17 of the e-Signature Act)

Note/ competent ministers:
- Minister of Justice

• Investigation of new applications for the accreditation of Specified Certification Business (Investigation for new certification business)
• Annual investigation of issued accreditations (Investigation for the renewal of accreditations)
• Investigation of changes in the certification business (Investigation for changes)

• Document-based investigation: Checklist on conformity with the accreditation criteria; CPS** stating the certification business policies; operation manual; etc.

Note/ ** CPS: Certification Practices Statement

• On-site investigation: Investigation of the facilities for providing the certification business; investigation of the management of certification business by performing system test runs