(16)Competent authorities should be able to impose administrative pecuniary sanctions that have a real deterrent effect, for instance in an amount of up to one million euros or higher in the case of natural persons and up to a percentage of total annual turnover in the preceding financial year in the case of legal persons or other entities. That goal is better achieved by relating the pecuniary sanction to the financial situation of the person committing the breach. Without prejudice to the possibility of withdrawing the approval of the statutory auditor or audit firm concerned, other types of sanctions which have a suitable deterrent effect should be envisaged. In any case, Member States should apply identical criteria when determining the sanction to be imposed.