News article • 4 mins read
The National Accreditation Bodies for the United Kingdom and Sweden have signed a cooperation agreement that provides a clearer pathway for UK-based conformity assessment bodies (CABs) to obtain and maintain accreditation under selected EU regulations. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (Swedac) unveiled the agreement at the Global ACI meeting in Panama on 25th October 2026.
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, requires CABs participating in a number of verification and certification programmes to be accredited by an EU-based accreditation body.
Under the new UKAS/Swedac agreement, UKAS will carry out accreditation assessments of UK-based verification and certification bodies on behalf of Swedac, with Swedac remaining as the EU-based accreditation granting authority. This allows UK CABs to comply with EU requirements and participate in relevant schemes, without incurring the additional expense and delays that often arise from using internationally-based assessment teams.
The leading examples of two such European schemes are the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III). By placing a comparable cost on carbon imports, CBAM is designed to prevent ‘carbon leakage’; where carbon-intensive production moves to countries with less-stringent carbon constraints, thereby undermining domestic decarbonisation efforts. RED III sets EU sustainability and greenhouse-gas requirements for renewable energy, including crops used in the production of biofuels. More broadly, the Directive aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the shift to ‘clean energy’ by setting targets for the proportion of energy that must come from renewable sources by 2030.
CBAM and RED III play a pivotal role in protecting the integrity of climate policy and helping reach net zero targets. As both schemes also rely on credible and verifiable data, they specify use of accredited certifiers and verifiers. In addition to generating confidence in the integrity and accuracy of data, this increases assurance in regulatory compliance and expands potential marketplaces, including for UK-based CABs.
Commenting on the potential impact and benefits of the agreement, Matt Gantley, UKAS CEO said: “This agreement is an important step forward in strengthening cooperation between UKAS and Swedac, both of whom are recognised as world leaders in accreditation. More significantly, it demonstrates both organisations’ commitment to producing practical solutions that support market access, reduce unnecessary duplication and deliver real value for conformity assessment bodies. The UKAS/Swedac agreement combines the convenience of local assessments with the benefit of EU-wide recognition, without compromising on the robust nature of accreditation assessments. This lowers barriers to trade for CABs, whilst continuing to underpin confidence in the quality and integrity of accredited conformity assessment services for businesses, regulators and the general public.”
Echoing these sentiments, Swedac’s Director General Alexandra Wilton Wahren said: “This strengthened cooperation between Swedac and UKAS is about turning trust into practical solutions for trade. By enabling UK conformity assessment bodies to obtain accreditation against EU requirements for CBAM and RED III, we are supporting businesses on both sides, reducing barriers to trade and strengthening confidence in the movement of goods between the UK, Sweden and the wider EU market.”
Initially, the UKAS/Swedac agreement covers CBAM and RED III assessments. Both accreditation bodies are working towards extending the agreement to include other schemes with a similar requirement for use of an EU-based accreditation body, where conformity assessment bodies will be recognised from outside the EU/EEA.
ENDS
About UKAS
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body for the UK. It is appointed by (but operates independently of) government through a memorandum of understanding between UKAS and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST). UKAS’s role is to assess the technical competence and impartiality of organisations that provide certification, inspection, testing, calibration, validation and verification services (collectively known as conformity assessment services) against the requirements of nationally and internationally agreed standards. Certificates and reports issued by UKAS-accredited conformity assessment bodies are recognised internationally through UKAS’s participation in the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
About Swedac
The Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (Swedac) is Sweden’s national accreditation body and a government authority under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Swedac assesses and accredits the competence of conformity assessment bodies against internationally agreed standards and applicable regulatory requirements. Through accreditation, Swedac helps ensure the reliability and credibility of conformity assessment activities, supporting trust in products, services and systems.
In addition to its accreditation activities, Swedac is responsible for coordinating market surveillance in Sweden and has responsibilities in the areas of legal metrology and trade in precious metals.
Swedac cooperates with accreditation bodies and authorities internationally to promote the consistent interpretation and application of standards and requirements. This cooperation supports confidence in conformity assessment, the free movement of goods and services across borders, fair competition and consumer protection