Notified body

A notified body (Article 3(21)) is a conformity assessment body, usually private, that a Member State designates and reports ("notifies") to the Commission to review products independently. It is the same mechanism used for machinery, toys or medical devices.

Its role under the AI Act is limited: most Annex III high-risk systems are self-assessed through internal control. Notified bodies step in mainly for biometric systems when harmonised standards have not been applied, and for Annex I products when their sector legislation already requires it.

Each country has a notifying authority that accredits and monitors these bodies. If your vendor needs one, the body's number will appear next to the CE marking.