Notified Bodies and Conformity Assessment

What Are Notified Bodies?

Notified bodies are independent organisations designated by EU Member States to carry out conformity assessment procedures for regulated products. They verify that products meet the requirements of applicable EU legislation, including the ESPR, before they can be placed on the European market.

Each notified body is accredited for specific product categories and assessment procedures. They are notified to the European Commission through the NANDO database, which lists all recognised bodies across the EU.

Conformity Assessment Under ESPR

Conformity assessment is the process of verifying that a product meets all applicable regulatory requirements. Under the ESPR, this may involve:

• Review of technical documentation and design calculations
• Testing of product samples against performance requirements
• Inspection of manufacturing processes and quality systems
• Verification of DPP data accuracy and completeness
• Assessment of environmental footprint declarations

The specific assessment procedure depends on the product category and risk level. Some products may use self-declaration (Module A), while higher-risk products require third-party assessment by a notified body.

DPP Data and Conformity Assessment

Notified bodies increasingly rely on DPP data during conformity assessment. The passport provides a structured way to present technical documentation, test results, and compliance declarations that the assessor needs to review.

Accurate, well-organised DPP data can streamline the assessment process, reducing time and cost. Conversely, incomplete or poorly structured data may trigger additional scrutiny.

Working with Notified Bodies

Identify the notified bodies accredited for your product categories early in the compliance process. Understand which conformity assessment modules apply to your products and prepare your documentation accordingly.

MyProductPassport structures compliance data in formats that notified bodies expect, making the conformity assessment process more efficient for both manufacturers and assessors.