CHAPTER VIIISPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Article 51Penalties

Member States shall lay down rules on penalties for economic operators, which may include criminal sanctions for serious infringements, applicable to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive, and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented.

The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive and may be increased if the relevant economic operator has previously committed a similar infringement of this Directive.

The Member States shall notify the Commission of those rules by 20 July 2011, and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment to them.