Notified body capacity — Act now
Annex III high-risk enforcement is provisionally 2 December 2027 under the Digital Omnibus political agreement of 7 May 2026 (was 2 August 2026). Notified body assessments for high-risk AI systems requiring third-party conformity assessment (Annex III(1) remote biometric identification, plus Annex I product-embedded systems) typically take 9–18 months.
The Omnibus delay does not remove the queue: if anything the deferral has compressed the window in which providers must engage with NBs that are still being designated. Initiate contact now.
Recommended action: contact 2–3 candidate bodies now to obtain availability and indicative timelines. EU capacity is expected to be constrained well into 2027.
Notified Body Finder
Candidate EU notified bodies for AI Act conformity assessment by sector and Annex III category. Illustrative reference only — every entry must be verified in NANDO before contracting.
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 →
As of May 2026, no notified body has been formally designated under Art. 29 in the public NANDO register for AI Act high-risk conformity assessment. The candidates below are illustrative and should be verified in NANDO before contracting.
Filters narrow the illustrative list. Annex III filter is keyed to each body's adjacent sector competence, not to a confirmed AI Act designation.
8 candidate bodies found · illustrative
NANDO Database (official)TÜV SÜD AG
Illustrative — verify in NANDOTÜV Rheinland
Illustrative — verify in NANDOBureau Veritas
Illustrative — verify in NANDOSGS Belgium NV
Illustrative — verify in NANDOLloyd's Register EMEA
Illustrative — verify in NANDODEKRA Certification
Illustrative — verify in NANDOIntertek
Illustrative — verify in NANDODNV
Illustrative — verify in NANDONotified body information last reviewed May 2026. The authoritative source is the EU NANDO database. Designation status changes; always verify before contracting.
Note on AI Act notified body designation: Art. 29 designations are made by Member State national accreditation bodies (NABs) under Art. 33 and published in NANDO by the Commission. As of May 2026 none have been published specifically for AI Act high-risk assessment. Bodies with existing MDR/IVDR, Machinery Regulation, or radio-equipment accreditation are expected to seek AI Act notification for overlapping sectors. Engage candidate bodies early — capacity is expected to be constrained well into 2027 even with the Digital Omnibus enforcement deferral to 2 December 2027.