Notified Body Capacity Warning — Act Now
EU AI Act enforcement begins 2 August 2026. Notified body assessments for high-risk AI systems requiring third-party conformity assessment (Annex III(1) biometric identification, Annex III(6) law enforcement, plus systems under Annex I sector legislation) typically take 9–18 months.
If your system requires a notified body assessment and you have not yet initiated contact, you may be unable to obtain certification before the enforcement date.
Recommended action: Contact at least 2–3 notified bodies now to obtain availability and indicative timelines. Notified body capacity across the EU is limited — accreditation of new bodies is ongoing but demand is expected to exceed supply in 2026.
Notified Body Finder
Find EU-accredited notified bodies for AI Act conformity assessment by sector and country. Reference tool for providers whose systems require third-party assessment under Annex VII.
When Annex VII third-party conformity assessment is required, you must engage a notified body designated under the AI Act for your specific Annex III category. The wrong body invalidates the assessment. Bodies are listed in the Commission's NANDO database.
- 1Select your Annex III category.
- 2Review the list of currently designated notified bodies for that category.
- 3Contact shortlisted bodies early — lead times and capacity vary.
- 4Record your choice and contract details in the technical file.
When is a notified body required?
1. Biometric identification systems
Remote biometric identification systems used in publicly accessible spaces by law enforcement require mandatory third-party assessment under Art. 43(1) and Annex VII.
2. Annex I product safety components
AI systems embedded as safety components in Annex I products (e.g. medical devices, machinery) where the Annex I legislation itself requires third-party conformity assessment (e.g. Class IIa/IIb/III medical devices under MDR).
All other high-risk AI systems (Annex III, non-biometric) may use internal control self-assessment under Annex VI. Check your assessment path →
8 notified bodies found
NANDO Database (official)TÜV SÜD AG
AnnouncedTÜV Rheinland
AnnouncedBureau Veritas
In preparationSGS Belgium NV
In preparationLloyd's Register EMEA
In preparationDEKRA Certification
AnnouncedIntertek
In preparationDNV
AnnouncedNotified body information last updated April 2026. The authoritative source is the EU NANDO database. Accreditation status changes frequently.
Note on AI Act notified body accreditation: EU AI Act notified body accreditation is being established by Member State national accreditation bodies (NABs) under Art. 33. The European Commission will publish a register of AI Act-notified bodies in the NANDO database. Most bodies with existing MDR/IVDR, Machinery Regulation, or radio equipment accreditation are expected to seek AI Act notification for overlapping sectors. Engage notified bodies early — capacity is expected to be constrained in the first years of full AI Act application (August 2026 onwards).