Recital 60

Effective age verification across the Union requires recipients of the service to have access to suitable means of obtaining proof of age attestations. Without the availability of proof of age attestations, recipients of the service are prevented from accessing services solely because they lack access to a means to verify their age. Member States should therefore ensure the availability in their territory of different means of obtaining proof of age attestations, such as through biometric identity cards and passports, digital identity schemes, third party applications or in-person age verification. Member States should ensure that these means of obtaining proof of age attestation will enable the recipients to proof that they meet the age thresholds set in this Regulation a. This should include proof of age attestations for younger children Furthermore, Member States should ensure that an EU age verification solution is available free of charge. Member States should designate public authorities for the purposes of certifying EU age verification solutions and EU proof of age attestations. To that end, Member States should communicate to the Commission the names and addresses of the public authorities designated in their territory, together with any subsequent changes, and the Commission should make that information publicly available. Member States should also notify the Commission without undue delay of EU age verification solutions and EU proof of age attestations certified as conforming with the requirements of the EU Age Verification Scheme, together with the corresponding certificate of conformity, as well as of any subsequent suspension or withdrawal of such a certificate. In order to guarantee the effective and uniform application of this Regulation across the Union, an EU age verification solution or EU proof of age attestation that has been certified that has been included in the lists referred to in Article 30(1) should be recognised by all Member States. Member States should therefore not restrict or hinder, the use within their territory of an EU age verification solution that has already been included in that list by nomination of another Member State.