Article 45Requirements for qualified certificates for website authentication

1. Qualified certificates for website authentication shall meet the requirements laid down in Annex IV. The evaluation of compliance with those requirements shall be carried out in accordance with the standards, specifications and procedures referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.

1a. Qualified certificates for website authentication issued in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be recognised by providers of web-browsers. Providers of web-browsers shall ensure that the identity data attested in the certificate and additional attested attributes are displayed in a user-friendly manner. Providers of web-browsers shall ensure support and interoperability with qualified certificates for website authentication referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, with the exception of microenterprises or small enterprises as defined in Article 2 of the Annex to Recommendation 2003/361/EC during the first five years of operating as providers of web-browsing services.

1b. Qualified certificates for website authentication shall not be subject to any mandatory requirements other than the requirements laid down in paragraph 1.

2. 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 website authentication, referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).