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We are DAkkS

We are the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), the national accreditation authority of the Federal Republic of Germany. Our accreditations create trust in the work of laboratories, inspection and certification bodies, whose assessment services are needed in many economic sectors. With an accreditation, we confirm that these organisations can competently perform their work in accordance with the requirements of internationally valid standards, legal principles and relevant regulations. This is our legal mandate. With our accreditations, we help to make products, processes and services safer and to simplify trade in Europe and the world – in the interests of the state, the economy and the protection of society and the environment.

News Selection of our news

International German Accreditation Council: No accession for Germany to GLOBAC
International German Accreditation Council: No accession for Germany to GLOBAC

At its meeting on 26 February 2025, the German Accreditation Advisory Board recommended to the Federal Government that Germany, specifically the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), should currently not join the new accreditation organization GLOBAC.

Testing laboratories Flexible scopes: certificate annexes simplified and test method lists standardised
Testing laboratories Flexible scopes: certificate annexes simplified and test method lists standardised

DAkkS is simplifying the presentation of the flexible scopes of accreditation shown in certificate annexes held by accredited testing laboratories, and standardising the lists of test methods. This measure is part of the change in category designations for flexible scopes, where the new “A, B, C” categories are intended to provide greater clarity. DAkkS technical unit 3.3 initiated the measure with a pilot project.

Accreditation of flexible scopes Flexible scopes: adjustments for medical laboratories start in February
Accreditation of flexible scopes Flexible scopes: adjustments for medical laboratories start in February

In August last year, DAkkS first introduced the new “A, B and C” categories for the flexible scopes of accreditation. Starting in February, these categories are now also being introduced for medical laboratories. The new category designations replace the previous “III, I and II” categories. They show more clearly than before that the categories build on each other. The goal is to avoid misinterpretation.

International Gabriel Zrenner elected to the Executive Board of EA
International Gabriel Zrenner elected to the Executive Board of EA

Gabriel Zrenner, Head of Department at Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS), has been elected to the Executive Board of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA). His term of office started on 1 January 2025.

Application Discontinuation of the requirement for the written form from 1 January 2025
Application Discontinuation of the requirement for the written form from 1 January 2025

The Fourth German Bureaucracy Reduction Act came into force on 1 January 2025. It includes an amendment to the Act on the Accreditation Body that removes the previous requirement for the written form for submitting applications to DAkkS. Since 1 January 2025, electronic applications can be submitted via DAkkS-PORT or by e-mail.

Digital quality infrastructure The most important thing: Just make a start, give it a try and take one step forward at a time
Digital quality infrastructure The most important thing: Just make a start, give it a try and take one step forward at a time

Dr. Christian Sander, is head of metrology at Testo Industrial Services GmbH and has been dealing with the topic of the digital accreditation symbol and the digital calibration certificate (DCC) in his role. The laboratory is currently preparing for the introduction of the digital accreditation symbol.

Application requirement for expansion Official note: Incorrect references as a cause of unauthorised use of the accreditation for extensions
Application requirement for expansion Official note: Incorrect references as a cause of unauthorised use of the accreditation for extensions

This official notice explains problematic and difficult to detect cases of incorrect reference to an accreditation requirement in order to help conformity assessment bodies avoid unintentionally and inadmissibly referring to accreditation or infringing trade mark rights.

Digital quality infrastructure There is no alternative to the digital accreditation symbol
Digital quality infrastructure There is no alternative to the digital accreditation symbol

Interview with Dr. Michael Melzer, head of the calibration laboratory at BAM, on digital calibration certificates and trustworthy chains of evidence.

Digital quality infrastructure The digital accreditation symbol strengthens trust and recognition of digital calibration certificates
Digital quality infrastructure The digital accreditation symbol strengthens trust and recognition of digital calibration certificates

With the digital accreditation symbol, DAkkS has developed an internationally recognised solution that guarantees the necessary protection of the authenticity and integrity of digital calibration certificates. A clear advantage for accredited bodies.

IAF Cert Search database No obligation to use the IAF CertSearch database
IAF Cert Search database No obligation to use the IAF CertSearch database

This official notice clarifies that there is no obligation to use the IAF CertSeach database in accordance with IAF MD:28. It also provides information on the requirements for the confidentiality of certificates of conformity for a planned voluntary publication at iafcertsearch.org.

DAkkS body of rules New rule document for medical laboratories published
DAkkS body of rules New rule document for medical laboratories published

After completion of the consultation process, DAkkS has published the new “Rule for accreditation of medical laboratories in accordance with DIN EN ISO 15189:2023” (R-15189) on its website and put it into force.

International cooperation DAkkS in bilateral dialogue on quality infrastructure in Germany and Indonesia
International cooperation DAkkS in bilateral dialogue on quality infrastructure in Germany and Indonesia

As part of the ‘Global Project Quality Infrastructure’ (GPQI), the DAkkS had the opportunity to visit the Indonesian accreditation body (KAN) in Jakarta, among other things. The bilateral German-Indonesian dialogue on quality infrastructure was successfully continued on site with two workshops on digitalisation and electromobility.

New: The digital accreditation symbol Important step towards digital quality infrastructure

Since April 2024, accredited bodies can now also receive the specific state accreditation symbol of the DAkkS in digital form. DAkkS is the world's first accreditation body to offer a digital accreditation symbol that can be used to digitally sign confirmations of conformity from industry and business and make them tamper-proof and machine-readable as an “eAttestation”. This allows the values from any digital test report, calibration certificate or certificate to be processed directly. In addition, the recipients of these digital confirmations can use the digital accreditation symbol to check the validity of the accreditation in real-time and thus place even more trust in the issuer of the document. This not only increases security, but also reduces costs, saves time and thus increases efficiency.

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Foto: Unsplash/Glenn Carstens-Peters

Database of accredited bodies One for all

Are you looking for conformity assessment bodies accredited by DAkkS? Whether it’s inspection, certification or verification and validation bodies, testing, calibration or medical laboratories, reference material producers or providers of proficiency testing. The DAkkS database of accredited bodies provides you with information.

Go to Database of accredited bodies

Start your accreditation! Step by step

In the first step, accreditation begins with your decision in favour of the procedure of an accreditation and the numerous benefits associated with it. After a successful application, DAkkS assesses both the independence of the conformity assessment body making the application and its technical competence, including for example the qualifications of its staff, the quality management system, the necessary equipment and facilities and the methods used. The procedure consists of a defined process in several steps, among them the application, assessment, accreditation decision and surveillance.

The entire process at a glance

Accreditation activities The types of conformity assessment

  • Testing and calibration laboratories (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025)
  • Medical laboratories (DIN EN ISO 15189)
  • Inspection bodies (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020)
  • Certification bodies for management systems (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1)
  • Certification bodies for persons (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024)
  • Certification bodies for products, processes and services (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065)
  • Validation and verification bodies (DIN EN ISO 14065)
  • Proficiency testing providers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043)
  • Reference material producers ( DIN EN ISO 17034)
  • Biobanks (DIN EN ISO 20387)

Accreditation activities in detail

Foto: DAkkS/Plambeck

Careers working at DAkkS

Are quality and safety important to you? Does the thought of working at a company at the interface between industry, politics and society appeal to you? Do you value collegiality and a responsible employer? Then find out here about job vacancies at DAkkS.

Link to the DAkkS career pages

Facts and figures current figures, data and facts about DAkkS

Zahl der Akkreditierungen

5600

valid accreditation certificates

25

technical units

ca. 280

employees

ca. 950

external assessors

Foto: DAkkS/Plambeck

Assessors at DAkkS Information for DAkkS assessors and for those looking to become one

Some 950 system and technical assessors as well as technical experts from public and private institutions are involved in national and international accreditation cases on behalf of DAkkS. Here you will find all relevant information about the work of assessors, including ways to become a DAkkS assessor, relevant documents and events for assessors and our current vacancies.

Link to more information about DAkkS assessors

Basis of our work Mission statement, work practices and legal basis

Our work as the national accreditation body is governed by a number of cast-iron foundations and principles, which include not only the legal requirements in place at national and European level – first and foremost the German Act on the Accreditation Body – but also international standards and rules for accreditation bodies. These provide the legal framework for our activities as the sole service provider for accreditation in Germany. However, together with the fundamental principles of our work practices – independence, objectivity and impartiality – and our mission statement, they also constitute the foundation of our business activities.

Go to overview

Foto: Adobe Stock / pogonici

International recognition Tested once, accepted everywhere

DAkkS is firmly anchored in the European and international accreditation structures. We are a member of the European co-operation for Accreditation, the International Accreditation Forum and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, and have signed their multilateral agreements. The goal of international cooperation is to enable the worldwide acceptance of conformity assessments through accreditation, with a view to reducing international barriers to trade.

Link to more information

Foto: Adobe Stock / whyframeshot

Organisational structure of DAkkS Organisation chart, committees and bodies

Here you can find everything you need to know about the organisational structure of DAkkS, from the four technical departments and information about the Executive Board to the committees and bodies in place at DAkkS and their functions and responsibilities.

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Document database Find the right documents here

In our comprehensive document database, we provide you with all DAkkS documents relating to the accreditation process for download. In the database, you will find everything from policy documents and forms to checklists and other documents.

Link to the document database

© 2025 Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle
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