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 informal 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.
- 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
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.
- Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially Explosive Atmospheres – Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX)
- Cableways – Regulation (EU) 2016/424 (CABLE)
- Explosives for Civil Uses – Directive 2014/28/EU (CIVEX)
- Construction Products – Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (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 (EC) 2003/2003 (FERTIL)
- Gas Appliances – Regulation (EU) 2016/426 (GAR)
- Lifts and safety components for lifts – Directive 2014/33/EU (LIFTS)
- Low Voltage – Directive 2006/95/EC (LVD)
- Machinery – Directive 2006/42/EC (MACHINE)
- 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)
- 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 (EC) No 1222/2009 (TYRES)
- EU general risk assessment methodology (Action 5 of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for the surveillance of products in the EU) (1011 kB)
- 20 actions for safer and compliant products for Europe: a multi-annual action plan for the surveillance of products in the EU
- A vision for the internal market for industrial products
- Blue Guide
- Good Practice in Market Surveillance Activities related to Non-Food Consumer Products sold Online (728 kB)
- Guidelines for import controls in the area of product safety and compliance (70 kB)
- RAPEX Guidelines
- Guidelines for market surveillance of products sold online
- Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially Explosive Atmospheres – Directive 2014/34/EU
- Cableways – Regulation (EU) 2016/424
- Medical Devices – Directive 93/42/EEC
- Construction Products – Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
- Cosmetics - Regulation (EU) No 1223/2009
- Eco-design – Directive 2009/125/EC
- Electromagnetic Compatibility – Directive 2014/30/EU
- Energy Labelling – Directive 2010/30/EU
- Gas Appliances – Regulation (EU) 2016/426
- Labelling of Tyres – Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009
- Lifts – Directive 2014/33/EU
- Low Voltage – Directive 2014/35/EU
- Machinery – Directive 2006/42/EC
- Marine Equipment – Directive 2014/90/EU
- Noise – Directive 2000/14/EC
- Pressure Equipment sector – Directives 2014/68/EU and 2014/29/EU
- Personal Protective Equipment – Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Pyrotechnics – Directive 2013/29/EU
- Radio Equipment – Directive 2014/53/EU
- Recreational Craft – Directive 2013/53/EU
- Chemicals – Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
- Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances – Directive 2011/65/EU
- Safety of Toys – Directive 2009/48/EC
- Transportable Pressure Equipment – Directive 2010/35/EU
- Measuring Instruments – Directive 2014/32/EU & Non-automatic Weighing Instruments – Directive 2014/31/EU
- Explosives for Civil Uses – Directive 2014/28/EU
- Fertilisers - Regulation (EC) 2003/2003
- Textile labelling – Regulation (EC) 1007/2011
ATEX
AUTO
ECOD
EMC
- Report on the 15th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on household appliances (2023) New
- Report on the 14th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on USB hubs (2021/2022)
- Joint statement from ADCO RED and EMC ADCO on jammers (2023)
- EMC ADCO information sheet for economic operators (2022) (299 KB)
- Report on the 13th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on Microwave ovens (2021)
- Study on ready-made connecting devices (RMCD) (2021)
- EMC ADCO - Common statement on traceability requirements
- European language requirements for products covered by EMCD 2014/30/EU (2.0)
- Example of EU declaration of conformity (DoC) adopted by EMC ADCO (Word document, 39 KB)
- Report on the 12th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on LED lighting equipment (2019)
- Report on the 11th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on solar panel inverters (2019)
- Report on the 10th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on PLC (2018)
- Report on the 9th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on eCigarettes (2017)
- Report on the 8th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on inductive appliances (2017)
- Report on the 7th joint cross-border EMC/LVD market surveillance campaign on LED floodlights (2017)
- Report on the Sixth Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on solar panel inverters (2014) (86 kB)
- Report on the Fifth Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on switching power supplies (2012/2013) (135 kB)
- Report on the Fourth Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on LED lamps (2011) (100 kB)
- Report on the Third Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on Consumer Entertainment Electronics Products (2009/10) (178 kB)
- Report on the Second Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on domestic power tools (2007/08) (59 kB)
- Report on the First Joint Cross-Border EMC Market Surveillance Campaign on Energy Saving lamps (ESLs) products (2004/05) (39 kB)
GAD/GAR
- Report on the 2nd coordinated action - Common market surveillance activity on three different types of products: Parasol patio heaters, domestic portable heaters and mobile non-domestic forced convection direct fired air heaters (2018)
- Report on the 1st coordinated action - Common market surveillance activity on hot plates and hobs with 2 or more burners for use in caravans, motor caravans, mobile homes and recreational crafts (boats) (2016)
LVD
MACHINERY
- Machinery ADCO Recommendations for improving the safety of Firewood Processors (2 MB)
- Machinery ADCO Good Practice Guide (2 MB)
MED
- Information for Economic Operators of the Marine Equipment ADCO
- MED ADCO EU declaration of conformity template (111 kB)
PED/SVPD
- PED ADCO EU declaration of conformity template
- SPVD ADCO EU declaration of conformity template
- Assemblies according to the Pressure Equipment Directive (a consideration provided by the PED ADCO Group)
R&TTE / RED
- Position on measurement uncertainty by the RED ADCO group
- Position on tolerances in published harmonised standards by the RED ADCO group
- Report on the First Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on compliance with the administrative requirements of the R&TTE Directive (performed in 2002-2003) (477 kB)
- Report on the Second Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on Short Range Devices (performed in 2005-2006) (148 kB)
- Report on the Third Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on Private Mobile Radio (PMR) and 2.4 GHz products (performed in 2008-2009) (193 kB)
- Report on the Fourth Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on low power FM transmitter (performed in 2009) (134 kB)
- Bilateral campaign to assess the conformity of 39 Tablet PC conducted by The Market Surveillance Authorities (MSA) of Germany (Bundesnetzagentur) and the Netherlands (Agentschap Telecom) (performed in March-July 2012) (57 kB)
- ADCO R&TTE report on market surveillance statistics 2011
- ADCO R&TTE report on market surveillance statistics 2012
- ADCO R&TTE report on market surveillance statistics 2013
- ADCO R&TTE report on market surveillance statistics 2014
- ADCO R&TTE report on market surveillance statistics 2015
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics 2016
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics 2017
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics 2018
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics 2020
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics for 2021
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics for 2022
- ADCO RED report on market surveillance statistics for 2023
- Report on the Fifth Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on WLAN 5 GHz (performed in 2013) (125 kB)
- Report on the Sixth Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on mobile phone repeaters (performed in 2014) (145 kB)
- Report on the Seventh Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on remotely piloted aircraft systems (performed in 2015) (463 kB)
- Report on the Eighth Joint Cross Border R&TTE Market Surveillance Campaign on radio-controlled toys (performed in 2016)
- ADCO RED Report on 9th RED Market Surveillance Campaign on WLAN 5 GHz (rev 1) (performed in 2018)
- ADCO RED Common action on WLAN 5GHz
- ADCO RED Report on 10th RED Market Surveillance Campaign on IoT (performed in 2019)
- ADCO RED report on 11th RED Market Surveillance Campaign on PMR
- Information sheet on obligations associated with the placing of radio equipment on the market (Directive 2014/53/EU)
- National language requirements of the national implementation of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU)
- National requirements for spectrum use during demonstrations and field tests
- Common statement on traceability requirements under the RED
- Common understanding on the standard EN50566:2013
- Joint statement from ADCO RED and EMC ADCO on jammers
- Guidelines for compliance with delegated regulation (EU) 2019/320
WELMEC