Article 35: Identification Numbers and Lists of Notified Bodies
Article 35 requires the Commission to assign a unique identification number to each notified body and to maintain a publicly available list — the NANDO (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) database — detailing each body's identification number and the conformity-assessment activities for which it has been notified. Member States must also make this information publicly accessible.
Who does this apply to?
- -The European Commission, which maintains the NANDO database and assigns identification numbers to notified bodies
- -Notified bodies that receive their identification number and appear on the published list
- -Providers of high-risk AI systems who consult the list to select a notified body for third-party conformity assessment
Scenarios
A provider of a high-risk biometric identification system needs a third-party conformity assessment under Article 43. The provider consults the NANDO list published by the Commission to identify notified bodies authorised for AI Act assessments.
A Member State notifies the Commission about a newly designated conformity assessment body under Article 34. The Commission assigns identification number NB-2345 and adds the body to the NANDO database.
What Article 35 requires
Article 35 establishes two core obligations:
1. Commission assigns identification numbers — Each notified body receives a unique identification number from the Commission. This is the NANDO number that serves as the body's official identifier across all Union conformity-assessment frameworks.
2. Publication and maintenance of the list — The Commission must publish and keep up to date the list of notified bodies, including their identification numbers and the activities for which they have been notified under the AI Act. Member States must also make this list publicly available.
The list serves as the single authoritative register that providers, market-surveillance authorities, and other stakeholders rely on to verify whether a body is genuinely notified for AI Act conformity assessment.
The NANDO database in practice
The NANDO (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) database is the Commission's existing IT system for managing notified body information across all Union product-safety legislation. Under the AI Act, NANDO is extended to cover bodies notified for AI conformity-assessment activities.
For each notified body, the database records: - The unique identification number - The notifying Member State - The specific conformity-assessment activities (e.g., quality management system assessment, technical documentation assessment) covered by the notification - Any restrictions, suspensions, or withdrawals of the notification
Providers should always cross-check a body's NANDO entry before commissioning a conformity assessment to confirm its scope has not been restricted or withdrawn.
How Article 35 connects to the notification framework
- Article 33 — Notifying authorities designate and monitor bodies before the Commission is notified.
- Article 34 — The formal notification to the Commission, including the information that feeds the NANDO entry.
- Article 43 — The conformity-assessment procedures that notified bodies on the list are authorised to carry out.
- Article 113 — Application dates for the notified-body framework.
Compliance checklist
- Before engaging a notified body, verify its identification number and scope in the NANDO database.
- Confirm the body is notified specifically for AI Act conformity-assessment activities — not only for other Union legislation.
- Check that the notification has not been suspended, restricted, or withdrawn since it was granted.
- Retain a screenshot or extract of the NANDO entry at the time of engagement for your conformity-assessment file.
- If you cannot find a suitable notified body on the NANDO list, contact your national notifying authority for guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a NANDO number?
It is the unique identification number the Commission assigns to each notified body. The number is listed in the NANDO database and appears on certificates the body issues. Providers should reference it in their conformity-assessment documentation.
Can a notified body operate before appearing on the NANDO list?
No. A notified body may only start performing conformity assessments once the notification is complete and the Commission has assigned its identification number — unless another notified body or the Member State has raised an objection under Article 34, in which case the body may begin after a waiting period if no objections are upheld.
How often is the NANDO list updated?
The Commission keeps the list continuously up to date. Any changes to a body's status — new notifications, restrictions, suspensions, or withdrawals — are reflected in NANDO as they occur.