Statutory duty
Since January 2009, Regulation (EC) no. 1338/2001 'laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting' dat ATMs within the euro area may only be supplied with banknotes that have been checked according to procedures to be adopted by the ECB. Such procedures have recently been laid down in the ECB Decision no. ECB/2010/14 'on the authenticity and fitness checking and recirculation of euro banknotes' (see the link at the bottom of this page). This Decision will take effect on 1 January 2011. In the Netherlands, most banknotes are already checked in accordance with the ECB procedures. The Decision applies not only to banks but also to other parties that operate ATMs.
The central position of the ECB Decision is that ATMs must only be replenished with banknotes that have undergone an authenticity and fitness test performed by specialised equipment. Such equipment must not more than one year ago have passed a test applied by one of the national central banks of the Eurosystem. An overview of such equipment may be found on the ECB website (see the link below to 'Tested banknote processing machines'). The professional equipment referred to here should not be confused with the devices used at cash registers by retail merchants.
Keeping banknote processors up to date
It is the responsibility of manufacturers, banks and other users to ensure that their equipment is kept up to date. Therefore, manufacturers must have each type of equipment they make retested every year. Retesting is also required after every modification of the hardware or software used in the equipment.
Tests are performed by one of the national central banks of the Eurosystem in accordance with standard ECB procedures. The outcome of a test is valid for all countries within the euro eara. Questions about such tests may be sent by email to secretariaatchartaal@dnb.nl.
