1. Qualified certificates for electronic signatures shall meet the requirements laid down in Annex I.

2. Qualified certificates for electronic signatures shall not be subject to any mandatory requirement exceeding the requirements laid down in Annex I.

3. Qualified certificates for electronic signatures may include non-mandatory additional specific attributes. Those attributes shall not affect the interoperability and recognition of qualified electronic signatures.

4. If a qualified certificate for electronic signatures has been revoked after initial activation, it shall lose its validity from the moment of its revocation, and its status shall not in any circumstances be reverted.

5. Subject to the following conditions, Member States may lay down national rules on temporary suspension of a qualified certificate for electronic signature:

(a) if a qualified certificate for electronic signature has been temporarily suspended that certificate shall lose its validity for the period of suspension;

(b) the period of suspension shall be clearly indicated in the certificate database and the suspension status shall be visible, during the period of suspension, from the service providing information on the status of the certificate.