A method of encoding multi-layer video data using the High Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC, standard the method comprising: determining for a particular layer, layerA, whether a first access unit, auA, is not allowed to contain a recovery point SEI message that applies to a set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layer A, wherein auA is not allowed to contain a recovery point SEI message when all of the following conditions are true: all pictures in auA that are in the reference layers, if any, of layerA have both poc_msb_cycle_val_present_flag and poc_reset_idc equal to 0; there is at least one picture, picA, with poc_msb_cycle val_present_flag equal to 1 in the following access units: access units that follow auA in decoding order and precede a second access unit, auB, when present in decoding order, where auB when present is the first access unit that succeeds auA in decoding order such that the picture order count values of the pictures in auB can be derived without using the picture order count values of pictures preceding auB in decoding order; access unit, auB, when present and when a picture in auB with nuh_layer_id equal to 0 is not an IRAP picture with NoClrasOutputFlag equal to 1; and generating the first access unit without including a recovery point SEI message applying to the set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layerA when the recovery point SEI message is determined as not allowed or otherwise generating the first access unit including a recovery point SEI message that applies to the set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layerA. determining for a particular layer, layerA, whether a first access unit, auA, is not allowed to contain a recovery point SEI message that applies to a set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layer A, wherein auA is not allowed to contain a recovery point SEI message when all of the following conditions are true: all pictures in auA that are in the reference layers, if any, of layerA have both poc_msb_cycle_val_present_flag and poc_reset_idc equal to 0; there is at least one picture, picA, with poc_msb_cycle val_present_flag equal to 1 in the following access units: access units that follow auA in decoding order and precede a second access unit, auB, when present in decoding order, where auB when present is the first access unit that succeeds auA in decoding order such that the picture order count values of the pictures in auB can be derived without using the picture order count values of pictures preceding auB in decoding order; access unit, auB, when present and when a picture in auB with nuh_layer_id equal to 0 is not an IRAP picture with NoClrasOutputFlag equal to 1; access units that follow auA in decoding order and precede a second access unit, auB, when present in decoding order, where auB when present is the first access unit that succeeds auA in decoding order such that the picture order count values of the pictures in auB can be derived without using the picture order count values of pictures preceding auB in decoding order; access unit, auB, when present and when a picture in auB with nuh_layer_id equal to 0 is not an IRAP picture with NoClrasOutputFlag equal to 1; and generating the first access unit without including a recovery point SEI message applying to the set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layerA when the recovery point SEI message is determined as not allowed or otherwise generating the first access unit including a recovery point SEI message that applies to the set of layers containing at least layerA and all reference layers of layerA. <EOS>