Dates from which the clearing obligation takes effect
Article 3
1. In respect of contracts pertaining to a class of OTC derivatives set out in Annex I, the clearing obligation shall take effect on: (a) 9 February 2017 for counterparties in Category 1; (b) 9 July 2017 for counterparties in Category 2; (c) 9 February 2018 for counterparties in Category 3; (d) 9 July 2019 for counterparties in Category 4. Where a contract is concluded between two counterparties included in different categories of counterparties, the date from which the clearing obligation takes effect for that contract shall be the later date. 2. By way of derogation from points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1, in respect of contracts pertaining to a class of OTC derivatives set out in Annex I and concluded between counterparties other than counterparties in Category 4 which are part of the same group and where one counterparty is established in a third country and the other counterparty is established in the Union, the clearing obligation shall take effect on: (a) 9 July 2019 in case no equivalence decision has been adopted pursuant to Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 for the purposes of Article 4 of that Regulation covering the OTC derivative contracts set out in Annex I of this Regulation in respect of the relevant third country; or (b) the later of the following dates in case an equivalence decision has been adopted pursuant to Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 for the purposes of Article 4 of that Regulation covering the OTC derivative contracts set out in Annex I of this Regulation in respect of the relevant third country: (i) 60 days after the date of entry into force of the decision adopted pursuant to Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 for the purposes of Article 4 of that Regulation covering the OTC derivative contracts set out in Annex I of this Regulation in respect of the relevant third country; (ii) the date when the clearing obligation takes effect pursuant to paragraph 1. This derogation shall only apply where the counterparties fulfil the following conditions: (a) the counterparty established in a third country is either a financial counterparty or a non-financial counterparty; (b) the counterparty established in the Union is: (i) a financial counterparty, a non-financial counterparty, a financial holding company, a financial institution or an ancillary services undertaking subject to appropriate prudential requirements and the counterparty referred to in point (a) is a financial counterparty; or (ii) either a financial counterparty or a non-financial counterparty and the counterparty referred to in point (a) is a non-financial counterparty; (c) both counterparties are included in the same consolidation on a full basis in accordance to Article 3(3) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012; (d) both counterparties are subject to appropriate centralised risk evaluation, measurement and control procedures; (e) the counterparty established in the Union has notified its competent authority in writing that the conditions laid down in points (a), (b), (c) and (d) are met and, within 30 calendar days after receipt of the notification, the competent authority has confirmed that those conditions are met.