Article 19 — Limitation periods

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to provide for a limitation period that enables the investigation, prosecution, trial and adjudication of the criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 to 6 and 8 to 11 for a sufficient period of time after the commission of those criminal offences, in order for those criminal offences to be tackled effectively. Such limitation period shall be as follows: (a) at least eight years from the commission of a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least four years; (b) at least five years from the commission of a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years. 2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to provide for a limitation period that enables the enforcement of penalties imposed following a final conviction for the criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 to 6 and 8 to 11 for a sufficient period of time after that conviction. Such limitation period shall be as follows: (a) at least 10 years from the date of the final conviction in the following cases: (i) a penalty of imprisonment of more than one year, or alternatively (ii) a penalty of imprisonment for a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least four years; (b) at least five years from the date of the final conviction in the following cases: (i) a penalty of imprisonment of up to one year, or alternatively (ii) a penalty of imprisonment for a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States may establish a shorter limitation period, provided that such limitation period may be interrupted or suspended in the event of specified acts. This period shall not be shorter than: (a) five years for criminal offences punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least four years; (b) three years for criminal offences punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years; 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, Member States may establish a shorter limitation period, provided that such limitation period may be interrupted or suspended in the event of specified acts. This period shall not be shorter than: (a) five years from the date of the final conviction in the following cases: (i) a penalty of imprisonment of more than one year, or alternatively (ii) a penalty of imprisonment for a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least four years; (b) three years from the date of the final conviction in the following cases: (i) a penalty of imprisonment of up to one year, or alternatively (ii) a penalty of imprisonment for a criminal offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years.