Decision (EU) 2019/2195 of the European Central Bank

of 5 December 2019

amending Decision ECB/2010/14 on the authenticity and fitness checking and recirculation of euro banknotes (ECB/2019/39)

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 128(1) thereof,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 16 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)
The European Central Bank (ECB) has the exclusive right to authorise the issue of euro banknotes within the Union. This right includes the competence to take measures to protect the integrity of euro banknotes as a means of payment. Decision ECB/2010/141 lays down common rules and procedures on the authenticity and fitness checking and recirculation of euro banknotes. In the light of the experience gained in applying and interpreting Decision ECB/2010/14, a number of technical amendments and some further clarification and improvement of certain rules, procedures and definitions are required. In particular, clearer instructions and definitions are required with regard to the data to be reported on the number of euro banknotes processed, sorted as unfit and recirculated.
(2)

Currently category 3 banknotes must be handed over to national central banks immediately, or at the latest 20 working days after being deposited in a banknote handling machine. Since category 3 banknotes are sometimes mixed with category 4a and 4b banknotes, this leads to a higher number of authentic banknotes being sent unnecessarily for further analysis. It is therefore necessary to provide for the reprocessing of category 3 banknotes to enable them to be separated from category 4a and 4b banknotes.

(3)

Annex IV to Decision ECB/2010/14 sets out the details of the data to be collected from cash handlers. In the interests of clarity, the details of the data to be reported need to be further specified to ensure that it is as comprehensive and accurate as possible.

(4)
Decision ECB/2013/102 introduced new rules to cater for future series of euro banknotes and to clarify and improve certain procedures regarding the reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes. As a result, certain amendments are also required to the provisions of Decision ECB/2010/14.
(5)

Therefore Decision ECB/2010/14 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: