Limitation periods for the imposition of fines and periodic penalty payments
Article 22
1. The right of the Commission to impose fines and/or periodic penalty payments to a recognised organisation in accordance with this Regulation shall expire after five years from the date when the action or omission of the recognised organisation giving rise to an infringement identified in accordance with Article 3 of this Regulation was committed. However, in case of continuing or repeated actions or omissions giving rise to an infringement, time shall begin to run on the day on which the action or omission ceases. The right of the Commission to impose periodic penalty payments to a recognised organisation in accordance with Article 15 of this Regulation shall expire after three years from the date when the action or omission of the recognised organisation, for which the Commission requested appropriate preventive and remedial action, was committed. 2. Any action taken by the Commission or the European Maritime Safety Agency for the purpose of the assessment or the infringement procedure in relation to an action or omission of the recognised organisation shall interrupt the relevant limitation period established under paragraph 1. The limitation period shall be interrupted with effect from the date on which the action of the Commission or the Agency is notified to the recognised organisation. 3. Each interruption shall start time running afresh. The limitation period shall, however, not exceed a period equal to twice the initial limitation period, except where limitation is suspended pursuant to paragraph 4. 4. The limitation period for the imposition of periodic penalty payments shall be suspended for as long as the decision of the Commission is the subject of proceedings pending before the Court of Justice of the European Union.