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ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATION FOR AN OPTICAL STORE AND CONTACT LENS DEPARTMENT

Application and submission of supporting documents regarding the announcement of the commencement of operation of an optical store.

Process: The steps for completing the process are as follows:

1. Application with the required supporting documents.
2. Issuance of the certificate of commencement of operation.

Supporting Documents: To be granted the commencement, the interested party must submit:

1. Application-Solemn Declaration for the announcement of commencement of operation.

2. Copy of a general-use criminal record, issued within the last quarter, proving that the applicant has not been irrevocably convicted of a felony or any of the misdemeanors of theft, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, grievous bodily harm, violation of drug provisions, or provisions relating to morals. This applies to both the applicant and the health supervisor. (Sought ex officio if issued by domestic authorities)*.

3. Property titles or lease agreement.

4. Architectural plans in duplicate (floor plans and sections of the spaces) signed by a certified engineer member of the T.E.E. & certification of main use spaces.

5. Copy of the building permit (Construction Permit), certified by the competent Building Service, which must state the use of the building or space for which the licensing is requested, or in any case, the use stated in the building's identity according to Article 5 of Law 4067/12 (FEK 79/A’/09-04-2012) & engineer's certification.

6. Certificate of (active) fire protection from the competent Fire Service, according to the current fire safety regulations.

7. Solemn Declaration (digitally signed via GOV.GR) stating the list of machinery, tools, and instruments which shall bear the CE marking, according to the standing provisions.

8. Copy of ID card or other equivalent document (for the applicant and the health supervisor).

9. Copy of certification that the legal requirements for practicing the profession of optician are met for the scientific supervisor.

10. Solemn Declaration (digitally signed via GOV.GR) stating the details of the health supervisor optician, who does not work as a health supervisor in another store, as well as the replacement optician.

11. Payment Receipt (Diplotypo), amount of thirty-eight Euros (38 €), to KAE 1450189001 from the Tax Office (DOY).

For the operation of a contact lens department, the following additional documents are submitted:

1. Solemn Declaration (digitally signed via GOV.GR) stating the list of machinery, tools, and instruments, which shall bear the CE marking according to the standing provisions.

2. Copy of the license for the distribution and fitting of contact lenses (where required).

In the case where the business is operated by a legal entity, the following additional documents are submitted:

1. Articles of Association of the company and any amendments thereof with the corresponding FEK (Government Gazette) of publication or Certificates of Registration in the company books of the Court of First Instance of the company's registered office.

2. Certificate of Corporate Changes issued for LLCs (EPE), General Partnerships (OE), and Limited Partnerships (EE) by the Court of First Instance of the company's seat, and for Corporations (AE) by the Directorate of Corporations of the relevant Regional Unit.

3. Certificate of non-declaration of bankruptcy of the legal entity from the competent Court of First Instance (Sought ex officio if issued by domestic authorities)*.

4. Legalizing documents for the submission of an application on behalf of a legal entity (1st act of establishment of the Board of Directors - responsibilities - appointment of legal representative and corresponding FEK).

5. Copy of ID card or other equivalent document of the legal representative.

6. G.E.MI. (General Commercial Registry) Number.

Requirements for opening a contact lens department within an optical store

List of machinery

1. Ophthalmometer (Keratometer)
2. Fluorescein lamp
3. Collection of trial contact lenses
4. Instrument for measuring the distance of the contact lens from the cornea (Vertex)
   
   

Supporting documents required to be submitted to the Prefecture for the granting of an operating license for a Contact Lens department in an optical store.

1. License for the distribution and fitting of Contact Lenses
2. Layout of the space where the Contact Lens department will operate (the area of which must be at least 10 sq. meters, either inside the optical store, provided there is the required space, i.e., 10 sq.m. for the Contact Lens department, 10 sq.m. for the rest of the store, and 6 sq.m. for the laboratory – at least – either in a separate space, or on another floor, but always in the same building)
3. List of machinery
4. Two photographs
5. Two revenue stamps
   
   

If the above documents are submitted together with all the others for the optical store license application, then nothing else is required.

Requirements for opening a Laboratory in an optical store

• Two (2) lens grinding wheels (fine – coarse)
• Machine oiler (1)
• Lens grooving machine (NYLOR) (1)
• One (1) anvil
• Two (2) hammers
• Six (6) small files
• Two (2) pliers for metal frames
• One (1) lensmeter (focimeter)
• Protractor (1)
• Two (2) files (one for metal and one for plastics/celluloid)
• Hand diamond (1) for lens marking
• One (1) crystal drill, electric or manual
• Two (2) heaters/frame warmers (One (1) electric and one (1) alcohol)
• One (1) vice
• Two (2) lens cutters
• Two (2) tweezers/pincers
• Three (3) screwdrivers
• Rulers (Metric)
• Caliper (1)
• Soldering machine (electric or manual)

It should be emphasized here that optical stores are established and operate in independent and autonomous buildings with an area of at least twelve (12) square meters, where six (6) square meters constitute the laboratory (Article 6 par. 2).

Exceptions are those optical stores housed within pharmacies or other shops that have at least six (6) square meters for the display of optical goods and six (6) square meters for the laboratory (Article 6).