Short answer
A notified body is involved only where the applicable EU act and conformity module require or permit it. Verify its four-digit number, legislation, and scope in NANDO; a voluntary “CE certificate” does not replace manufacturer responsibility or the correct procedure.
Key takeaways
- Start with the applicable legal act, not a certification seller.
- NANDO scope must cover the correct product and module.
- Test laboratory, certification body, and notified body are not synonyms.
- The manufacturer remains responsible when a third party is involved.
This content is a practical overview, not legal advice. Always verify the current legislation and the requirements that apply to your product. Research uses official primary sources; competitor content is used only to identify questions and content gaps.
When is a notified body required?
EU legislation defines available conformity modules. Some products permit self-assessment; others require type examination, quality-system assessment, or another third-party route. Product classification, risk category, and use of harmonised standards can affect the procedure.
Check NANDO
Search the body number and verify notification for the legal act, product group, module, and restrictions. A body notified for machinery may lack competence for personal protective equipment or a specific module.
Warning about misleading voluntary certificates
A document carrying a CE symbol or the word certificate is not automatically a legal notified-body certificate. Check issuer, document type, accreditation or notification, scope, standard edition, product identity, and validity. The Commission explicitly warns about certificates outside a body’s competence.
Laboratories and other assessment bodies
An accredited laboratory can provide strong test evidence without being a notified body. A certification body may offer voluntary services. Record the legal function of each party and do not confuse technical competence with notification.
Document third-party involvement
Retain the module, application, product scope, certificates, reports, non-conformities, decisions, and communication. Check when the body number follows the CE mark. Product or quality-system change may require approval or reassessment.
Procurement and release control
Require competent approval of body and scope before purchase. The release gate verifies that final certification covers the correct product revision. Retain the NANDO check, quoted scope, non-conformities, and product-change decisions in one revision chain.
How Verca can support the process
Verca can connect bodies, numbers, reports, certificates, and product versions in the technical file. Verca does not determine the applicable module and is not a notified body.
Frequently asked questions
Does every CE-marked product need a certificate?
No. Many laws permit manufacturer self-assessment; the act and module determine the route.
How is a notified body verified?
Check its number and exact notification in the European Commission NANDO database.
Is an accredited laboratory a notified body?
Not necessarily. Accreditation and notification are different statuses and functions.
Does the body assume manufacturer responsibility?
No. The manufacturer remains responsible for conformity and CE marking.
Official sources
Primary sources used for this guide.