European Federation of National Associations of Measurement, Testing and Analytical Laboratories
EUROLAB
EUROLAB represents a network of public, private laboratories and conformity assessment bodies (CABs) throughout Europe and beyond.
ID: 93803793892-60
Lobbying Activity
Response to Revision of the 'New Legislative Framework'
2 Sept 2025
EUROLAB, a European organization representing laboratories and other conformity assessment bodies considers that the revision of the New Legislative Framework (NLF) presents a crucial opportunity to refocus on a freer, and more efficient accreditation market in Europe that can enable a sustainable quality infrastructure. One of the primary objectives of the NLF was to promote intra-community trade by eliminating technical barriers that hindered the exchange of goods and services between member states. However, this goal has not been fully achieved, as nowadays conformity assessment bodies (CABs) experience various constraints due to the different practices, costs and requirements of the different European National Accreditation Bodies (NABs). Rather than facilitating trade, the current regulation has introduced additional layers of complexity, impeding the free flow of goods and services within the European and international markets, especially for small businesses and new entrants. EUROLAB recommends improvements and openness of the existing accreditation system where currently CABs have no option to choose the European NAB they consider best fit for their services. EUROLAB advocates for the importance of improvement of systems efficiency in the accreditation market, by offering CABs the freedom to choose from different European NABs. That provides an incentive to European NABs to focus on their service, price level and offers opportunities for specialization, while maintaining a certain level playing field and controlled quality. In such a system, there is a need for coordination, but not for an overall European Accreditation Body. The role of European NABs as part of a national quality infrastructure and partner for governments as well as public and private stakeholders is an important aspect in the European and national quality infrastructure. This will be beneficial not only for CABs, but also for European NABs that can further enhance their service portfolios, investing in innovation and enlarging their activities in markets from other European countries. This approach would not only revitalise innovation, but also enhance trust and impartiality in the European accreditation system, aligning it more closely with the principles of a free and efficient market.
Read full responseResponse to Procedures for the designation of Union testing facilities
30 Mar 2022
EUROLAB (The European Federation of National Associations of Measurement, Testing and Analytical Laboratories) takes note of the European Commission's initiative to finalise the procedures for the designation of EU Testing Facilities (UTFs).
EUROLAB welcomes the efforts to fill in the capacity gaps when it comes to the EU market surveillance, however various needs for further clarification are raised by the EUROLAB laboratory community:
1. EU Testing Facilities shall deal in this capacity exclusively with controls on the market, they will not have to compete with private laboratories as this will lead to a distortion in the competition. Market surveillance authorities (MSAs) should still be able to conclude service contracts with private testing facilities (Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), Notified Bodies (NBs), Accredited Laboratories) to implement their activities, and should not be restricted to conduct their testing activities only through UTFs.
2. If there are public bodies / laboratories that operate on behalf of market surveillance and are also NBs, their internal organizational structure must be clarified to avoid conflict of interest and not to question their independence and impartiality.
3. The clause on avoidance of conflict of interest concerning UTFs should be strictly implemented, in order to ensure that the future UTFs do not compete with private testing facilities for clients that are not MSAs.
4. Private test laboratories, as well as Notified Bodies, have to undergo an Accreditation process via the National Accreditation Body. We assume that also UTFs shall follow the accreditation process in order to be aligned, for competence and reliability, to the private market player. Thus, this approach should create an equal level playing field in terms of knowledge and competence and avoid the possible conflict of interest between UTFs and NBs.
Testing facilities belonging to the testing, inspection, certification (TIC) sector are essential partners to EU MSAs in carrying out actions on product safety, fighting against counterfeiting and increasing the level of consumer safety throughout the Single Market, thus their activity should not be restricted in anyhow through the introduction of the UTFs.
Read full responseMeeting with Věra Jourová (Commissioner)
11 Mar 2015 · Standardisation and international agreements