Apply for initial accreditation of a conformity assessment body

If you wish to apply for accreditation for a conformity assessment body for the first time, you must submit an application for initial accreditation to the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS).

A conformity assessment body is an independent body that tests the conformity of products, processes, or services for compliance with laws, standards, and guidelines.

To do this, you can have yourself accredited as a conformity assessment body by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS). The DAkkS checks whether you meet the normative and legal requirements.

Your application for initial accreditation applies to one conformity assessment body at a time. Initial accreditation is generally required if you are a new customer. However, you can also submit applications for initial accreditation if you are an existing customer and wish to have an additional conformity assessment body or an additional type of accreditation accredited. The accreditation procedure is initiated with the submission of the application.

If the procedure has a positive outcome, the accreditation confirms that your organization fulfills the requirements within the defined scope and is authorized to perform certain conformity assessment tasks. You generally receive the accreditation for an indefinite period.

With the accreditation, you are also permitted to use the non-digital accreditation symbol.

To ensure the competence of the conformity assessment body and to maintain accreditation, DAkkS continuously conducts regular surveillance assessments.  

You can submit the application for initial accreditation for your conformity assessment body by e-mail, by post, or online.

Submit your application by email or mail:

• You complete the application form electronically and send it, along with the attachments and supporting documents, to DAkkS by email or post.
• The DAkkS, together with the responsible specialist department, reviews the application.
• The subsequent review results in a report. If you have not met all requirements, you will have the opportunity to make corrections within a set deadline. These will be reviewed again and evaluated finally.

Online application:

• Access the accreditation portal of the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS-PORT).
• You are registered and logged into the DAkkS PORT and have access to the stored data.
• Fill out the following form sections:
  • Application data
  • Organization
  • Conformity assessment body
  • Fee notices and invoices
  • Scope
  • Required documents
  • accreditation symbol
  • Sign application
  • Submit summary and application
• You send your application to the DAkkS for review. You will receive a summary of the submitted information online. You can also view the processing status in the DAkkS-PORT.
• The DAkkS, together with the responsible specialist department, reviews the application.
• The subsequent review results in a report. If you have not met all requirements, you will have the opportunity to make corrections within a set deadline. These will be reviewed again and evaluated finally.

You may not begin your conformity assessment body activities until you have received the accreditation decision.

DAkkS conducts regular surveillance audits every 12 to 18 months, as well as a comprehensive renewal audit after 5 years at the end of the accreditation cycle.

The costs for accreditation depend on the time spent on the respective accreditation procedure. They are calculated after the completion of the procedure on the basis of the time actually spent in hours. Tariff items 7.1 and 7.2 of the schedule of fees apply.

• Objection