Testing laboratories as notified bodies

Testing laboratories can - if they fulfil the requirements - be appointed as notified bodies responsible for certain EC Directives. The notification process has been analyzed from the viewpoint of testing laboratories. The tasks the testing laboratory must take on board when acting as a notified body have been identified. As testing laboratories can also act as notified bodies, many laboratories will expand their activities in that direction. They have of course to demonstrate their capability, but the decision will mainly be related to expected market developments. The questions of financing certain infrastructural costs as well as of challengeability are open for further discussion.