Article 16 Relationship with other obligations to make data available to public sector bodies, the Commission, the European Central Bank and Union bodies

This is a short but important carve-out article that defines the boundaries of Chapter V, which governs the exceptional circumstances under which public sector bodies can request data from private data holders.

Article 16 makes clear that Chapter V does not override or replace existing legal obligations, and that certain public authority activities fall entirely outside its scope.

Important points:

• Existing obligations under Union or national law for reporting, information access, or compliance verification are unaffected by Chapter V.
• Public sector bodies, the Commission, the European Central Bank, and Union bodies acting in the context of criminal or administrative law enforcement, customs, or taxation are excluded from Chapter V entirely.
• Chapter V also leaves untouched any Union or national law governing criminal or administrative offences, penalties, customs, and taxation administration.