DEKRA Becomes the First Accredited Certification Body for AI Biometric Systems Under the EU AI Act
STUTTGART, Germany, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant advancement for the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), DEKRA, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, has achieved the status of the first officially accredited certification body for AI Biometric Systems under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. This pivotal accreditation empowers manufacturers to navigate the EU’s evolving regulatory landscape, facilitating the introduction of compliant and responsible AI technologies into the EU market.
The Importance of Certification in AI
As AI increasingly permeates daily life and systems used to identify, categorize, and monitor individuals, the necessity for certifying their trustworthiness has never been more pressing. AI Biometric Systems are engineered to recognize individuals based on their physical or behavioral characteristics, often in real-time and at scale. However, this capability also carries inherent risks, prompting the EU AI Act to classify these systems among the high-risk categories.
DEKRA’s Authorized Assessment Areas
DEKRA is now authorized to conduct conformity assessments on three critical types of AI Biometric Systems:
- Remote Biometric Systems: These systems identify individuals at a distance without necessitating active participation from the individual.
- Emotion Recognition Systems: These systems analyze biometric data to infer or identify a person’s emotions or intentions.
- Biometric Categorization Systems: These systems classify individuals based on their physical traits or behavioral attributes.
Implications of the EU AI Act
“The EU AI Act is fundamentally transforming the pathway for high-risk technologies to enter the market,” states Fernando Hardasmal, DEKRA Executive Vice President and Head of Digital & Product Solutions. “Being the first accredited laboratory under this Act means manufacturers of AI Biometric Systems can depend on us to meet stringent regulatory demands while ensuring their products align with standards for security, reliability, and digital trust.”
This accreditation, bestowed by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA), arrives at a crucial time as the EU AI Act went into effect in 2024, with mandatory compliance for high-risk AI systems set to begin in August 2026. Consequently, manufacturers of AI Biometric Systems are under increasing pressure to demonstrate conformity before their products can enter the EU market.
DEKRA’s Commitment to Digital Trust
This milestone enhances DEKRA’s portfolio of Digital Trust Services and underscores its broader commitment to making advanced technologies smarter, safer, and more secure globally. For manufacturers, the path forward is clear: they must become familiar with compliance requirements, integrate security and accountability into their systems, and pursue certification well ahead of the August 2026 deadline. Early certification not only ensures regulatory compliance but also serves as a competitive differentiator in an industry increasingly focused on trust.
About DEKRA
For over a century, DEKRA has been synonymous with safety. Established in 1925 with the initial aim of improving road safety via vehicle inspections, DEKRA has evolved into the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in testing, inspection, and certification. Today, DEKRA stands as a global partner, providing comprehensive services and solutions to advance safety and sustainability—fully aligned with its anniversary motto, “Securing the Future.” In 2024, DEKRA is projected to generate revenues of 4.3 billion euros with approximately 48,000 employees delivering qualified and independent expert services across around 60 countries.
