In order to ensure conformity with the existing basic principles of their legal system, by way of derogation from paragraph 2, Member States may provide that the competent authorities are able not to impose a sanction or only to mitigate the sanction to be imposed in criminal proceedings to the extent that the contribution of the individuals, referred to in paragraph 2, to the detection and investigation of the secret cartel outweighs the interest in prosecuting and/or sanctioning those individuals.
D'fhonn comhréireacht a áirithiú le prionsabail a gcóras dlíthiúil, ar prionsabail atá ann cheana, féadfaidh na Ballstáit a fhoráil, de mhaolú ar mhír 2, go bhfuil na húdaráis inniúla in ann gan smachtbhanna a fhorchur nó an smachtbhanna atá le forchur a mhaolú a mhéid a bheidh rannchuidiú na ndaoine aonair, dá dtagraítear i mír 1, le brath agus imscrúdú an chairtéil rúnda, níos treise ná an leas maidir le hionchúiseamh a dhéanamh agus/nó smachtbhannaí a fhorchur ar na daoine aonair sin.