Decision on the Reproduction of Euro Banknotes

Unofficially consolidated translation
DECISION
ON THE REPRODUCTION OF EURO BANKNOTES
(OGM 61/18 of 14 September 2018, 54/22 of 24 May 2022) Basic Provision
Article 1
This decision shall govern detail conditions for the reproduction of euro banknotes. Terms and Definitions
Article 2
Certain terms and definitions used in this Decision shall have the following meaning:
1) ‘euro’ means the legal currency of Member States of the European Economic and
Monetary Union (hereinafter: the EMU) and of those participating in the EMU which have concluded an agreement with the European Union on the introduction of the euro;
2) ‘genuine euro banknote’ means a banknote issued by the European Central Bank
or national central bank of the EMU Member States in accordance with the decision of the European Central Bank on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes;
3) ‘reproduction’ means any tangible or intangible image that uses all or part of a
genuine euro banknote or parts of its individual design elements, such as, inter alia, colour, dimensions and use of letters or symbols, which image may resemble or give general impression of a genuine euro banknote, irrespective of:
(a) the size of the image; or
(b) the material(s) or technique(s) used to produce it; (c) whether or not the design of the euro banknote, such as letters or symbols has been altered
4) ‘economic agent’ means a legal person, an entrepreneur or a natural person
reproducing genuine euro banknotes.
Unlawful Reproductions
Article 3
In addition to the reproductions that have been issued an approval referred to in
Article 5 of this Decision, unlawful reproductions of the genuine euro banknotes shall
represent reproductions that do not meet the criteria referred to in Article 4 of this Decision and their production, possession, transportation, dissemination, selling, promotion, import into and export from Montenegro, and the use or attempted use for transactions shall be prohibited.

2
Lawful Reproductions
Article 4
Reproductions complying with the following criteria shall be deemed lawful, since there is no risk that the general public might mistake them for genuine euro banknotes:
1) one-sided reproductions of a genuine euro banknote provided that the size of the
reproduction is equal to or greater than 125 % of both the length and width, or equal to or less than 75 % of both the length and the width of the respective genuine euro banknote;
2) two-sided reproductions of a genuine euro banknote provided that the size of the
reproduction is equal to or greater than 200 % of both the length and width or equal to or less than 50 % of both the length and width of the respective genuine euro banknote;
3) reproductions of individual design elements of a genuine euro banknote provided
that such a design element is not depicted a background resembling a banknote; one-sided reproductions depicting a part of the front side or reverse side of a genuine euro banknote, provided that such a part is smaller than one third of the original front side or reverse side of the genuine euro banknote;
4) reproductions made of a material clearly different from paper, which looks and
feels distinctly different from the material used for banknotes; or
5) intangible reproductions made available electronically on websites, by wire or
wireless means or by any other means that allow members of the public to access these intangible reproductions from a place and at a time individually chosen by them, provided that:

• the word SPECIMEN (sample) is incorporated diagonally across the
  reproduction in Arial font or a font similar to Arial font,
• the resolution of the electronic reproduction in its 100 % size does not exceed
  72 dots per inch (dpi),
• the length of the word SPECIMEN shall be at least 75 % of the length of the
  reproduction, and
• the height of the word SPECIMEN shall be at least 15 % of the width of the
  reproduction, and
• the word SPECIMEN shall be displayed in a non-transparent (opaque) colour
  contrasting with the dominant colour of the respective genuine euro banknote. The making of reproductions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision shall not be subject to approval of the Central Bank of Montenegro (hereinafter: the Central Bank), as they shall be deemed approved within the meaning referred to in this Decision, provided that they comply with the requirements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision. Approvals
  Article 5
  By way of derogation from Article 4 of this decision, lawful reproductions shall be also those not complying with the criteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision in

3 so far as they cannot be mistaken by the general public for a genuine euro banknote provided that the Central Bank previously granted approval for those reproductions. An economic agent shall provide the Central Bank with the genuine euro banknote together with the request for granting approval referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision. The Central Bank shall submit the reproduction of the genuine euro banknote to the European Central Bank for opinion whether such reproduction can be deemed lawful. If the European Central Bank issues the opinion that the reproduction of a genuine euro banknote can be considered lawful, the Central Bank shall issue the approval; otherwise, the Central Bank shall deny the request. Reproduction of euro banknotes that are no longer in circulation
Article 6
The provisions of Articles 3 to 5 of this Decision shall apply to the production of reproductions of genuine euro banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation or have lost their legal tender status. Offences
Article 7
A fine ranging from 1,000 euros to 10,000 euros shall be imposed against an economic agent – legal person if:
1) it produces, owns, transports, disseminates, sells, promotes, imports into and
exports from Montenegro and/or uses or attempts to use the unlawful reproduction of a genuine euro banknote for transactions (Article 3);
2) it produces a reproduction of the genuine euro banknotes, which have been
withdrawn from circulation or have lost their legal tender status, contrary to the provisions of Article 6 of this Decision. For the offence referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision, an economic agent - entrepreneur shall be also imposed a fine ranging from 500 euros to 3,000 euros. A responsible person in the economic agent - legal person and natural person shall be also imposed a fine ranging from 500 euros to 1,000 euros for the referred to in paragraph 1 of this Decision. A protective measure of revoking unlawful reproductions of euro banknotes subject to offences shall be imposed together with the imposing of measures for offences referred to in paragraphs 1 through 3 of this Decision. Final Provision
Article 8
This Decision shall enter into force on the eighth day following that of its publication in the Official Gazette of Montenegro. THE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO