Article 38

Qualified certificates for electronic seals shall meet the requirements laid down in Annex III.

Qualified certificates for electronic seals shall not be subject to any mandatory requirements exceeding the requirements laid down in Annex III.

Qualified certificates for electronic seals may include non-mandatory additional specific attributes. Those attributes shall not affect the interoperability and recognition of qualified electronic seals.

If a qualified certificate for an electronic seal has been revoked after initial activation, it shall lose its validity from the moment of its revocation, and its status shall not in any circumstances be reverted.

Subject to the following conditions, Member States may lay down national rules on temporary suspension of qualified certificates for electronic seals: (a) if a qualified certificate for electronic seal has been temporarily suspended, that certificate shall lose its validity for the period of suspension; (b) the period of suspension shall be clearly indicated in the certificate database and the suspension status shall be visible, during the period of suspension, from the service providing information on the status of the certificate.

By 21 May 2025 , the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish a list of reference standards and, where necessary, establish specifications and procedures for qualified certificates for electronic seals. Compliance with the requirements laid down in Annex III shall be presumed where a qualified certificate for electronic seal complies with those standards, specifications and procedures. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).