Limitation periods for the enforcement of fines and periodic penalty payments

1.   The powers of the Commission to enforce decisions adopted pursuant to Article 8 shall be subject to a limitation period of 5 years.
2.   The period provided for in paragraph 1 shall start on the day on which the decision taken pursuant to Article 8 becomes final.
3.   The limitation period provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be interrupted:
(a)
by notification of a decision modifying the original amount of the fine or periodic penalty payment or refusing an application for modification;
(b)
by any action of a Member State, acting at the request of the Commission, or of the Commission, intended to enforce payment of the fine or periodic penalty payment.
4.   After each interruption, the limitation period shall start running afresh.
5.   The limitation period provided for in paragraph 1 shall be suspended for so long as:
(a)
the respondent is allowed time to pay;
(b)
the enforcement of payment is suspended pursuant to a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union.