--- title: "Article 23 — Removing obstacles to effective switching" type: regulation legal_status: in_force source: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R2854" source_retrieved: 2026-10-03 shortTitle: "Article 23 — Removing obstacles to effective switching" instrument_type: level1_regulation authority: Commission binding: true binding_character: binding mica_level2: false legal_basis: "Regulation (EU) 2023/2854" instrument: dataact celex: "32023R2854" regulation: Data Act regulation-full: "Regulation (EU) 2023/2854" article: 23 status: in_force object_id: eu.dataact.legal_text.article.23 text_version: "Regulation (EU) 2023/2854, OJ L, 2023/2854, 22.12.2023" source_url: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2854/oj/eng" check_status: matched verified: true last_checked: 2026-10-26 --- *In force · Regulation (EU) 2023/2854, OJ L, 2023/2854, 22.12.2023 · Checked against EUR-Lex on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2854/oj/eng)* Providers of data [processing](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/processing) services shall take the measures provided for in [Articles 25](25.md), [26](26.md), [27](27.md), [29](29.md) and [30](30.md) to enable customers to switch to a [data processing service](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/data-processing-service), covering the [same service type](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/same-service-type), which is provided by a different provider of data processing services, or to [on-premises ICT infrastructure](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/on-premises-ict-infrastructure), or, where relevant, to use several providers of data processing services at the same time. In particular, providers of data processing services shall not impose and shall remove pre-commercial, commercial, technical, contractual and organisational obstacles, which inhibit customers from: **(a)** terminating, after the maximum notice period and the successful completion of the [switching](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/switching) process, in accordance with [Article 25](25.md), the contract of the data processing service; **(b)** concluding new contracts with a different provider of data processing services covering the same service type; **(c)** porting the [customer](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/customer)’s [exportable data](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/exportable-data) and [digital assets](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/data-act/digital-assets), to a different provider of data processing services or to an on-premises ICT infrastructure, including after having benefited from a free-tier offering; **(d)** in accordance with [Article 24](24.md), achieving functional equivalence in the use of the new data processing service in the ICT environment of a different provider of data processing services covering the same service type; **(e)** unbundling, where technically feasible, data processing services referred to in [Article 30(1)](30.md) from other data processing services provided by the provider of data processing services. *** [Chapter VI — Switching between data processing services](../chapters/vi.md) · [← Article 22](22.md) · [Article 24 →](24.md)