TIC Council, the international trade association representing the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry, highlights the need for EU Member States to advance their governance readiness under the AI Act by fulfilling their binding obligations as soon as possible.
TIC Council members will play a crucial role in the proper implementation and enforcement of the AI Act by acting as Notified Bodies (NBs), tasked with evaluating and verifying the compliance of high-risk AI systems with the Act’s legal requirements through applicable conformity assessment procedures.
The timely implementation of the AI Act is essential to provide legal certainty for industry, foster innovation and ensure a high level of safety, security and fundamental rights protection for AI systems and models across the EU Single Market.
Chapter III Section 4 (notifying authorities and notified bodies) and Chapter VII Section 2 (national competent authorities) require each Member State to designate, by 2 August 2025, its “competent authorities,” namely:
These authorities are the foundation of the AI Act’s governance framework: without them, the conformity assessment process cannot function, and no systematic market oversight or enforcement can take place. Yet, as things stand, no Member State has publicly named or empowered the bodies that will carry out these critical functions.
TIC Council, therefore, stresses the importance of Member States to establish the necessary national frameworks and legislation to enable the designation and operationalisation of these indispensable governance bodies. Further, we emphasise the importance of coordination among all designated competent authorities to foster effective cooperation and regulatory harmonisation across the EU.
Recognising the complexity of the designation of competent authorities and the latter notification of NBs (which in some instances can be extended over several months), TIC Council reiterates its support for transparency, coordination, and timely communication around AI Act implementation. We stand ready to offer our technical and regulatory expertise to support national authorities where needed and encourage open, constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders.
Only through timely and coordinated action can the EU maintain its global leadership in trustworthy AI and ensure a seamless, harmonised rollout of the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory framework.