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Chapter I: General Provisions
Chapter II: Prohibited AI Practices
Chapter III: High-Risk AI Systems

Section 1: Classification of AI Systems as High-Risk

Section 2: Requirements for High-Risk AI Systems

Section 3: Obligations of Providers and Deployers of High-Risk AI Systems and Other Parties

Section 4: Notifying Authorities and Notified Bodies

Section 5: Standards, Conformity Assessment, Certificates, Registration

Chapter IV: Transparency Obligations for Providers and Deployers of Certain AI Systems
Chapter V: General-Purpose AI Models

Section 1: Classification Rules

Section 2: Obligations for Providers of General-Purpose AI Models

Section 3: Obligations of Providers of General-Purpose AI Models with Systemic Risk

Section 4: Codes of Practice

Chapter VI: Measures in Support of Innovation
Chapter VII: Governance

Section 1: Governance at Union Level

Section 2: National competent authorities

Chapter VIII: EU Database for High-Risk AI Systems
Chapter IX: Post-Market Monitoring, Information Sharing and Market Surveillance

Section 1: Post-Market Monitoring

Section 2: Sharing of Information on Serious Incidents

Section 3: Enforcement

Section 4: Remedies

Section 5: Supervision, Investigation, Enforcement and Monitoring in Respect of Providers of General-Purpose AI Models

Chapter X: Codes of Conduct and Guidelines
Chapter XI: Delegation of Power and Committee Procedure
Chapter XII: Penalties
Chapter XIII: Final Provisions
Annexes
Annex I
Annex II
Annex III
Annex IV
Annex V
Annex VI
Annex VII
Annex VIII
Annex IX
Annex X
Annex XI
Annex XII
Annex XIII
  • Chapter IX: Post-Market Monitoring, Information Sharing and Market Surveillance
  • Section 3: Enforcement

Article 81: Union safeguard procedure

Summary

The Union safeguard procedure outlines steps to address objections raised by a Member State's market surveillance authority or the European Commission regarding measures taken against non-compliant AI systems. If objections arise within specified timeframes, the Commission consults with relevant authorities and operators to evaluate the national measure. If the measure is deemed justified, all Member States must take appropriate restrictive actions. If unjustified, the Member State must withdraw the measure. If the non-compliance is due to shortcomings in harmonised standards, the Commission will follow the procedure outlined in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012.

The summaries are meant to provide helpful explanation but are not legal binding.

1.   Where, within three months of receipt of the notification referred to in Article 79(5), or within 30 days in the case of non-compliance with the prohibition of the AI practices referred to in Article 5, objections are raised by the market surveillance authority of a Member State to a measure taken by another market surveillance authority, or where the Commission considers the measure to be contrary to Union law, the Commission shall without undue delay enter into consultation with the market surveillance authority of the relevant Member State and the operator or operators, and shall evaluate the national measure. On the basis of the results of that evaluation, the Commission shall, within six months, or within 60 days in the case of non-compliance with the prohibition of the AI practices referred to in Article 5, starting from the notification referred to in Article 79(5), decide whether the national measure is justified and shall notify its decision to the market surveillance authority of the Member State concerned. The Commission shall also inform all other market surveillance authorities of its decision.

2.   Where the Commission considers the measure taken by the relevant Member State to be justified, all Member States shall ensure that they take appropriate restrictive measures in respect of the AI system concerned, such as requiring the withdrawal of the AI system from their market without undue delay and shall inform the Commission accordingly. Where the Commission considers the national measure to be unjustified, the Member State concerned shall withdraw the measure and shall inform the Commission accordingly.

3.   Where the national measure is considered justified and the non-compliance of the AI system is attributed to shortcomings in the harmonised standards or common specifications referred to in Articles 40 and 41 of this Regulation, the Commission shall apply the procedure provided for in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012.

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