1.   Natural persons recovering fluorinated greenhouse gas-based solvents from equipment shall hold a certificate as referred to in Article 3.

2.   Natural persons recovering fluorinated greenhouse gas-based solvents from equipment shall not be subject to the requirement laid down in paragraph 1 of this Article provided that they meet the following conditions:

The derogation provided for in the first subparagraph shall apply for the duration of periods spent carrying out the activities referred to in Article 1 not exceeding 24 months in total.

1.   A certification body as referred to in Article 4 shall issue a certificate to natural persons who have passed a theoretical and practical examination organised by an evaluation body as referred to in Article 5, covering the minimum skills and knowledge set out in Annex I.

2.   The certificate shall contain at least the following:

3.   Member States may allow certification bodies to exempt applicants from the requirement of passing the examination referred to in paragraph 1, where the applicant previously acquired qualifications skills and knowledge equivalent to those listed in Annex I.

Member States may allow certification bodies to require applicants only to pass a supplementary examination, where the applicant’s previously acquired skills and knowledge are partly covered under those listed in Annex I.

1.   Member States shall specify in national law or designate the authority or authorities competent to designate a certification body authorised to issue certificates to natural persons involved in the activities referred to in Article 1.

The certification body shall be independent and impartial in carrying out its activities.

2.   The certification body shall establish and apply procedures for the issuance, suspending and withdrawing of certificates.

3.   The certification body shall maintain records that allow verifying the status of a certified natural person. The records shall demonstrate that the certification process has been effectively fulfilled. Records shall be kept for a minimum period of 5 years.

1.   An evaluation body designated in each Member State shall organise examinations for the natural persons referred to in Article 2(1). A certification body as referred to in Article 4 may also qualify as an evaluation body. The evaluation body shall be independent and impartial in carrying out its activities.

2.   Examinations shall be planned and structured in a manner which ensures that the minimum skills and knowledge set out in Annex I are covered. The evaluation body shall provide the place of examinations that ensures safety of the applicants, notably when they conduct activities involving solvents that are flammable.

3.   The evaluation body shall adopt reporting procedures and keep records to enable the documentation of the individual and overall results of the evaluation.

4.   The evaluation body shall ensure that examiners assigned to an examination have due knowledge of the relevant examination methods and examination documents as well as an appropriate competence in the field to be examined. It shall also ensure that the necessary equipment, tools and materials are available for the practical examinations.

1.   Mutual recognition of certificates between Member States shall only apply to certificates issued in accordance with Article 3 for natural persons for the activities specified in these certificates.

2.   Member States shall not impose any evaluation or other type of assessment procedures or disproportionate administrative requirements on holders of certificates issued by another Member State for the purpose of the recognition of those certificates or for allowing access to employment to the holders of those certificates for the activities specified therein.

3.   Member States may require holders of certificates issued in another Member State to provide a translation of the certificate into another official language of the Union.

1.   Member States shall ensure that the refresher training courses or evaluation processes as required under Article 10(9) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 provide proof of the certified natural persons’ practical and theoretical knowledge and skills specified in Annex I of this Regulation.

2.   Pursuant to Article 10(9) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573, Member States shall ensure that holders of existing certificates under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 306/2008 are only allowed to continue using those certificates if they update their skills and knowledge to the level of the skills and knowledge required for the certificate as referred to in Article 3 of this Regulation and specified in Annex I thereto.

1.   Regulation (EC) No 306/2008 is repealed.

2.   References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.