Article 12 — Professional secrecy

1. Any confidential information received, exchanged, or transmitted in accordance with this Regulation shall be subject to the requirements of professional secrecy laid down in this Article. 2. The obligation of professional secrecy shall apply to all persons who work or who have worked for authorities involved in the implementation of this Regulation and to any natural or legal person to whom the relevant authorities have delegated their powers, including auditors and experts contracted by those authorities. 3. Information covered by professional secrecy shall not be disclosed, except by virtue of provisions laid down by Union or national law. 4. All information exchanged between the relevant authorities or Member States in accordance with this Regulation that concerns business conditions or operational conditions or other economic or personal affairs shall be considered confidential and shall be subject to the requirements of professional secrecy, except where the relevant authority states at the time of the communication that such information may be disclosed, where the disclosure is required by virtue of provisions laid down under Union or national law or where such disclosure is necessary for legal proceedings.