Article 5
1. Where there is partial or complete participation in a competing exemption system, the system operator's confirmation that the relevant quantity of packaging is covered by the competing system shall constitute sufficient proof that the Packaging Ordinance obligations under Articles 3 and 4 have been fulfilled in another way. 2. Where there is partial or complete participation in a self-management solution, the subsequent presentation of an independent expert's certificate stating that the take-back and recovery requirements for the relevant amount of packaging have been fulfilled shall be sufficient. The certificate may be issued either to the individual manufacturer or distributor or to an association of self-managers. 3. DSD may on no account require the certificate to be presented at an earlier time than is laid down under the Packaging Ordinance. 4. Irrespective of the version of the Packaging Ordinance in question, the fact that the certificate confirms to the contractual partner that the take-back and recovery requirements, related to a specific quantity of packaging, have been fulfilled shall suffice for the proof to be furnished to DSD. 5. Should the certificate contain other information, this shall be obliterated. 6. Both the system operator's confirmation and the independent expert's certificate may be replaced by an accountant's certificate confirming retrospectively the fulfilment of the Packaging Ordinance obligations in respect of a specific volume of packaging. 7. Other provisions of the Trade Mark Agreement shall not be applied in such a way as to require a higher level of proof to be furnished to DSD.