Article 35 of the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230: identification numbers and lists of notified bodies

Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 establishes that the European Commission assigns a single identification number to each notified body, even where that body is notified simultaneously under several Union harmonisation acts, and that the Commission publishes and keeps up to date a public list of notified bodies detailing the activities for which they have been notified and their exact technical scope. In practice, this number is the reference that manufacturers, distributors and importers of machinery must verify before relying on a conformity assessment certificate.

What is the identification number of a notified body?

It is a four-digit numeric code that the European Commission assigns to each notified body at the moment a Member State communicates its notification under Article 34. This number does not change while the body maintains its active notification, and it must appear mandatorily alongside the body's name on any EU-type examination certificate, full quality assurance certificate, or conformity assessment document relating to high-risk machinery listed in Annex I, Part B.

Article 35 also clarifies an important nuance: if the same body provides assessment services under several Union harmonisation acts — the Machinery Regulation, the PPE Regulation, the Lifts Directive, among others — the Commission does not assign it a different number for each act. A single identification number is maintained, which simplifies traceability for manufacturers working with multi-sector bodies.

How is the list of notified bodies published?

The Commission maintains and updates a public database, accessible online, listing each notified body together with its identification number, the Member State that notified it, the categories of machinery or safety components for which it has been accredited, and the specific technical scope of its competence. This list is updated whenever a new notification occurs, a scope is modified, or a notification is suspended or withdrawn, in accordance with the procedures set out in the preceding articles of the chapter dedicated to notified bodies.

For a quality department, checking this list before signing a contract with a notified body is not optional: it is the only reliable way to confirm that the body is genuinely authorised to assess the specific type of machinery being manufactured, and not merely an adjacent generic category.

Why does the "technical scope" shown in the list matter?

The technical scope defines exactly which types of machinery, safety functions, or conformity assessment procedures the body may carry out. A body may be notified for circular saws but not for hydraulic presses, or for the EU-type examination procedure but not for the full quality assurance system. A certificate issued outside the published technical scope has no legal validity, even if the body appears on the list and holds a valid identification number.

Who is responsible for verifying this information?

Ultimate responsibility lies with the manufacturer commissioning the conformity assessment. Neither the fact that the body has a signed contract nor good faith exempts the manufacturer from checking, before and during the relationship with the body, that the identification number and technical scope published by the Commission match the activity actually contracted.

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Case study: Mecanitzats Puig, S.L.

Mecanitzats Puig, S.L., a manufacturer of industrial laser cutting machinery in Terrassa, contracted a German notified body in 2026 for the EU-type examination of a new high-risk sheet metal cutting line, included in Annex I, Part B. Before signing, the company's quality manager — with 42 units sold annually to customers in France and Portugal — checked the Commission's public list of notified bodies and found that the identification number assigned to the body covered laser cutting of metals but expressly excluded automated robotic feeding systems, precisely the function incorporated into their new machine. Thanks to that check, they avoided a potentially invalid certificate that would have blocked commercialisation in the three markets and forced a second audit, avoiding an estimated cost of 18,000 euros and eight weeks of delay.

Does the identification number change if the body is notified in a new country?

No. The identification number is linked to the body, not to the notifying Member State, so it remains stable unless the notification is withdrawn and a new notification is made from scratch.

Can a body have several numbers if it works across different sectors?

No. Under Article 35, the Commission assigns a single identification number even if the body is notified under different Union harmonisation acts, including the Machinery Regulation itself.

Where can the public list of notified bodies be consulted?

The European Commission publishes and updates it in its official database of notified bodies, accessible online and free to consult for any manufacturer, distributor or importer.

What specific information must appear next to the body in the list?

The identification number, the activities for which it has been notified, and its technical scope must be indicated — that is, which types of machinery or conformity assessment procedures it can actually certify.

What happens if I contract a body whose technical scope does not cover my machine?

The certificate issued has no validity to certify the conformity of that specific machine, which can prevent CE marking and commercialisation in the internal market, in addition to exposing the manufacturer to liability.

How often is the list of notified bodies updated?

The Commission keeps it continuously updated, incorporating each new notification, scope modification, suspension, or withdrawal as soon as it is formally communicated, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Regulation.