Adcos

About us

Products subject to EU harmonised legislation can circulate freely within the Single Market. EU countries are responsible for market surveillance at national level. However, cooperation between market surveillance authorities is a key element for the functioning of the Internal Market.

European cooperation on market surveillance takes place through groups of market surveillance authorities, called Administrative Cooperation Groups (AdCos). EU countries appoint the members of these groups who represent national authorities competent for market surveillance in a given sector (list of sectoral authorities). They meet several times per year to discuss market surveillance issues in their area of competence, and to ensure efficient, comprehensive and consistent market surveillance. The AdCos may also choose to extend their remit to encompass other relevant bodies on a case-by-case basis (e.g. testing laboratories, inspection and certification bodies and other organisations). Stakeholders may be invited to discuss specific issues on the agenda.

The objectives of the AdCos

To guarantee proper and uniform application of the provisions of the legislation within the single market
To increase the efficiency of market surveillance throughout the single market bearing in mind the existence of different systems in EU countries
To establish appropriate communication channels between national administrations and the Commission
To setup and coordinate common actions such as cross border market surveillance activities
To exchange views, reinforce cooperation on market surveillance, including compliance assessments practices (full, partial, formal, technical) as well as individual cases, and solve practical problems
To develop common practices and methodologies
To inform each other of national methods and activities to develop and promote best practices
To identify issues of shared interest relating to market surveillance and suggest common approaches on these

Coordination

The Commission supports and organises cooperation between the market surveillance authorities. There are currently more than 20 AdCos. Each group meets once, twice or more times per year. Depending on the group, these meetings may be held either in Brussels or in another European location. The groups work to a great extent autonomously.

The chair of each group is elected by its members. Some groups also have a vice-chair. The duty time of the chair depends on the rules of procedure defined by the group itself. The Commission is represented in the groups.

Furthermore, the Commission regularly organises horizontal meetings in Brussels where the chairpersons of the different AdCos participate. These meetings aim at promoting cooperation and exchanges of views, and helping AdCo chairpersons in their work.

List of existing AdCos

Artificial Intelligence – Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI)
Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially Explosive Atmospheres – Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX)
Batteries and waste batteries - Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (BATTERIES)
Cableways – Regulation (EU) 2016/424 (CABLE)
Explosives for Civil Uses – Directive 2014/28/EU (CIVEX)
Construction Products – Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 and Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 (CPR)
Unmanned aircraft systems - Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (DRONES)
Eco-design – Directive 2009/125/EC (ECOD)
Electromagnetic Compatibility – Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC)
Energy Labelling – Directive 2010/30/EU and Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 (ENERLAB)
Fertilisers - Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 (FERTIL)
Fluorinated greenhouse gases - Regulation (EU) 2024/573 (FGAS)
Gas Appliances – Regulation (EU) 2016/426 (GAR)
Lifts and safety components for lifts – Directive 2014/33/EU (LIFTS)
Low Voltage – Directive 2014/35/EU (LVD)
Machinery – Directive 2006/42/EC and Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (MACHINE)
Medical Devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices - Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 (MDCG MSWG)
Marine Equipment – Directive 2014/90/EU (MED)
Measuring Instruments – Directive 2014/32/EU & Non-automatic Weighing Instruments – Directive 2014/31/EU (MI)
Noise – Directive 2000/14/EC (NOISE)
Pressure Equipment sector – Directives 2014/68/EU and 2014/29/EU (PED/SPVD)
Cosmetics - Regulation (EU) No 1223/2009 (PEMSAC)
Personal Protective Equipment – Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (PPE)
Prepackages – Directive 76/211/EEC (PREPACKAGES)
Pyrotechnics – Directive 2013/29/EU (PYROTEC)
Recreational Craft and Personal Watercraft – Directive 2013/53/EU (RCD)
Chemicals – Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)
Radio Equipment – Directive 2014/53/EU (RED)
Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances – Directive 2011/65/EU (ROHS)
Textile labelling – Regulation (EC) 1007/2011 (TEXTILE)
Safety of Toys – Directive 2009/48/EC (TOYS)
Transportable Pressure Equipment – Directive 2010/35/EU (TPED)
Labelling of Tyres – Regulation (EU) 2020/740 (TYRES)