The European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) has been recognised by the European Commission (EC) as the official European accreditation infrastructure. The recognition of EA follows the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 by the European Parliament and the European Council, which establishes the legal framework for accreditation in the EU.
This regulation came into effect on January 1, 2010. Since then, reports on the functioning of the accreditation system have been conducted regularly; their results have confirmed the confidence all involved have in the system.
The Regulation promotes a harmonized approach to accreditation in the EU Member States so that, ultimately, there is no need to repeat the test, verification, inspection or certification in every country the manufacturer wants to market its products; accredited tests, verification, inspection etc. demonstrate the technical competence of the accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies and this is recognized by national accreditation bodies and regulators in Europe.
Cooperation between EA and the European authorities is based on the General Guidelines for Cooperation. These Guidelines set out a common understanding of the importance of accreditation for the European economy and life of European citizens and of its supporting role for an increasing number of European policies and legislation serving public interest, notably in the implementation of Union Harmonisation Legislation.
A common ambition and combined efforts to develop effective regulations
EA and the European Commission (EC) cooperate closely for the development and the implementation of EU regulations that refer to accreditation and conformity assessment activities. The main communication channel for EA is the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).
The number of regulations being developed or published over the past years is a clear indication of the confidence placed in accreditation and the European Accreditation infrastructure. It also demonstrates how well cooperation has evolved over the years, EA having adapted its internal organization to contribute at the right time. Confidence also exists in the almost daily interaction between EA and the EC services. It has helped ensure that EA can give its expertise about the benefit of using accreditation at the right stage of legislation development, sufficiently in advance for a sound and applicable set of requirements to be used in the various fields. We are talking about cybersecurity, food, waste, EU ETS in the maritime area, safety, health, environment, etc.
Cooperation with Directorate Generals
A busy and successful agenda
EA is very active with a large number of DGs and services of the EC:
- DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs);
- DG MOVE (Mobility and Transport);
- DG CLIMA (Climate Action);
- DG ENV (Environment);
- DG JUST (Justice and Consumers);
- DG FISMA (Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union);
- DG TAXUD (Taxation and Customs Union);
- DG INTPA (International Partnerships);
- DG TRADE (Trade and Economic Security);
- DG ENER (Energy);
- DG AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development);
- DG SANTE (Health and Food Safety);
- DG CONNECT (Communications Networks, Content and Technology);
- DG JRC (Joint Research Centre);
- DG ENEST (Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood).
There are also close links with the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), or the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). EA’s objective when cooperating with these various organisations is to ensure that accreditation and conformity assessment are used in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, the applicable harmonized standards for accreditation and the additional requirements set out in the EU legislations.
Why accreditation matters in the context of EU legislations
PRODUCTS to be placed on the European single market
Accreditation is a cornerstone of the EU Single Market because it ensures that products placed on the market comply with EU safety, health, and environmental requirements in a credible, consistent, and trustworthy way. By attesting that conformity assessment bodies – acting as notified bodies – are competent, impartial, and operate according to harmonised standards and EU legislation, accreditation guarantees the reliability of conformity assessment results on which regulators, businesses, and consumers rely.
Product examples
There are more than 30 EU product legislations, which defines the essential requirements to be met by products when placing on the EU market. This includes – among others: Machinery, Lifts, Construction products, Measuring instruments, Outdoor equipment, Recreational crafts, Toys and Electrical equipment.
FOOD
More than 15 EU legislation in the Food and Feed sector make use of accreditation. Example is the Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production, where accreditation underpins trust, transparency, and credibility in the EU organic sector, ensuring that consumers can have confidence in organic products and the EU organic logo.
Under this regulation, control bodies inspect and certify organic producers. Accreditation ensures that control bodies are competent and trustworthy, guarantees consistent enforcement of organic standards, protects consumers, and supports the credibility and integrity of the EU organic logo, thereby reinforcing confidence in organic products and the EU organic market.
Climate and Environment
EU ETS
The European regulator published around 50 EU legislations in the climate/environment sector. A key element in this sector is the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS).
The EU ETS is the world’s first and largest carbon market, operating on a “cap and trade” principle to cut greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively from power, industry, aviation, and maritime transport. It sets a limit (cap) on total emissions, issues allowances (permits to emit), and allows companies to buy/sell them (trade), creating a price for carbon that incentivizes reductions, with auctioning being the main distribution method.
Accredited verification bodies play a central role in the EU ETS by acting as an independent third party to verify the accuracy and reliability of companies’ emissions reports. This independent verification is crucial for the credibility and integrity of the entire system.
To date, 25 EA Members are signatories to the EA MLA for the scope GHG Validation and Verification with 188 accreditations valid at the end of 2023 (Source: EA survey – January 2024).
To access the list of NABs that have successfully undergone peer evaluation for accreditation of verifiers, and whose accreditation certificates delivered to accredited verifiers shall be accepted by the Member States (which shall respect the right of verifiers to carry out the verification for their scope of accreditation), select the scope “Validation and Verification” by clicking on “Enter any keyword or choose in the list below” on the following page.
EU MRV Shipping
Following the requirement for companies (shipowners) to submit a monitoring plan for each ship to the verifiers by August 2017 and from 2019 each year by the end of April to submit a verified emissions report to the Commission, the first verifiers were accredited in 2017. The scope of accreditation covers the assessment of monitoring plans and the verification of emissions reports.
During the second reporting year, covering 2021 data, more than 11,700 ships owned by more than 1,600 companies were involved in the system. Verification activities were performed by 20 accredited verifiers.
The National Accreditation Bodies (NAB) that have successfully undergone peer evaluation for accreditation of verifiers and provide services for the accreditation of verification bodies for assessment of monitoring plans and verification of emissions reports according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2018/2067 (EU ETS) and Regulation (EU) 2015/757 (MRV) can be found in the following link.
Accreditation, shaping the future of EU citizens
Presently, over 145 pieces of legislation refer to accreditation!
Examples of EU legislations:
- General Data Protection Regulation, and Cybersecurity Act to protect EU Citizens’ data,
- EU Emissions Trading Systems and EU MRV Shipping to track and limit the CO₂ emissions in Europe,
- Motor Vehicle Regulation to ensure cars are controlled efficiently,
- Organic production regulation to ensure the quality of products consumed by citizens.
Cooperation means active contribution regarding accreditation and conformity assessment in EU legislations, raising awareness actions on the European accreditation infrastructure in the various European Commission services, offering a unique entry point for anyone responsible for developing rules where accreditation can have a role.
Another support provided by EA to the European Commission (EC) consists of assisting the EC in negotiating trade agreements. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada (CETA) is an example.
EA-INF/05
Cooperation means active contribution regarding accreditation and conformity assessment in EU legislations, raising awareness actions on the European accreditation infrastructure in the various European Commission services, offering a unique entry point for anyone responsible for developing rules where accreditation can have a role.
Another support provided by EA to the European Commission (EC) consists of assisting the EC in negotiating trade agreements. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada (CETA) is an example.
EA-INF/05
European Accreditation infrastructure, a proven model for the other regions in the world
The EU Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 provides a legal framework for the provision of accreditation services across Europe, highlighting the importance of accreditation for the EU market.
The Regulation sets out the key principles of accreditation, which form what we refer to as the European model for accreditation:
- Accreditation is a service of general interest;
- Accreditation is the last level of control in the conformity assessment chain;
- One NAB per Member State; a NAB acts as Public Authority; they are appointed by their government;
- NABs are not-for-profit organisations;
- No competition between NABs ;
- CABs shall apply for accreditation to their NAB, for the voluntary or mandatory sectors;
- The accreditation system shall be accountable to stakeholders.
The Regulation identifies the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) as the sole association entrusted to manage accreditation at the European level and defines its responsibilities and obligations in this respect. It places an obligation on EU Member States to accept the results issued by the Conformity Assessment Bodies accredited by any of the EA (EEA) MLA signatories.
What is the New European Legislative Framework (NLF)?
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 is part of the “New European Legislative Framework” (NLF) that significantly contributed to the development of the Single Market. The NLF provides transparent rules for the accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies. This common legal framework enhances the quality and confidence in the products placed on the EU Market, based on a harmonized approach of accreditation and conformity assessment.
Notification authorities rely on accreditation
The process of achieving notification has changed: accreditation is the preferred route by which a Conformity Assessment Body demonstrates its competence to become a Notified Body. EA is working continuously to support and harmonise the implementation of the rules for Conformity Assessment Bodies seeking accreditation for notification purposes.
EA-2/17 EA Document on Accreditation for Notification purposes reflects the outcome of the so-called “Accreditation for Notification” project, which aims to determine the list of Preferred ‘Accreditation’ Standards for each Regulation/Directive and Module. EA-2/17 identifies the requirements that must be used by national accreditation bodies when assessing and accrediting CABs seeking notification.
General Guidelines for Cooperation: on 1 April 2009, the General Guidelines for the Cooperation between EA, the EC, EFTA, and competent national authorities were signed. These Guidelines establish a common understanding of the importance of accreditation for the European economy and life of European citizens and of its supporting role for several European policies and legislation reflecting public interest, notably in the implementation of Community harmonisation legislation.
To ensure that accreditation is applied consistently and reliably across Europe, Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 establishes a system of peer evaluation among National Accreditation Bodies. This process, coordinated by EA, verifies that each NAB operates to the same high standards of competence, impartiality, and independence. Regular peer evaluations are therefore performed, strengthening confidence and enabling the mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessments across the Single Market. More information on the Peer Evaluation page.
What does the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the EC and EFTA consist of?
Every four years, EA, the European Commission (EC), and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) sign an agreement with EA, called the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA). The FPA defines the respective roles and responsibilities of the EC/EFTA and EA in implementing their partnerships. Every year, EA and the EC/EFTA agree on a working program and the associated budget supported by EC and EFTA grants.