1. This Regulation shall neither apply to insurance intermediaries which provide insurance advice with regard to IBIPs nor to investment firms which provide investment advice that are enterprises irrespective of their legal form, including natural persons and self‐employed persons, provided that they employ fewer than three persons.

2. Member States may decide to apply this Regulation to insurance intermediaries which provide insurance advice with regard to IBIPs or investment firms which provide investment advice as referred to in paragraph 1.

3. Member States shall notify the Commission and the ESAs of any decision taken pursuant to paragraph 2.