Thank you Joe.
Can you please tell me where the major mod definitions are?
It is really bad that minor mods need a design authority. Under FAA (whose safety record is as good as the best anywhere else) a minor mod can be done in the field - so long as each part used comes with approved data e.g. TSOd, PMAd, aviation grade part, etc.
EASA is going to continue to pay a price for this - either by people being on foreign registers to avoid silly charges for silly-simple stuff, or by work being done undeclared (which always went on anyway, but you had to have good "contacts").