The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and Sweden’s accreditation authority Swedac have agreed a framework enabling UK-based conformity assessment bodies to undergo accreditation assessments locally while keeping access to selected EU regulatory schemes. The agreement was unveiled at the Global ACI Annual Meetings in Panama on 26 October 2026. Its initial scope covers the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III).
Under the arrangement, UKAS will carry out accreditation assessments for verification and certification bodies based in the United Kingdom on behalf of Swedac. Swedac will continue to act as the EU-based authority responsible for granting accreditation. The framework is intended to provide a route for UK conformity assessment bodies to meet relevant EU requirements without additional costs and delays linked to bringing assessment teams from abroad.
Accreditation rules linking assessments and EU accreditation
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 requires conformity assessment bodies participating in certain verification and certification programmes to be accredited by an EU-based accreditation body. The UKAS-Swedac framework addresses this by separating the conduct of assessments from the authority responsible for granting accreditation. The organisations said they aim to maintain the rigour of accreditation assessments while improving accessibility for UK-based conformity assessment bodies.
The approach combines local assessments carried out by UKAS with recognition through Swedac. This structure is designed to allow eligible bodies to participate in the EU schemes covered by the agreement. It also supports compliance with accreditation requirements tied to verification and certification activities under those programmes.
Initial coverage: CBAM and RED III requirements
The agreement’s initial scope includes CBAM, which is designed to address carbon leakage by applying a comparable carbon cost on imports. Carbon leakage is described as occurring when carbon-intensive production shifts to countries with less stringent carbon constraints, potentially undermining domestic decarbonisation efforts. The scheme relies on reliable, verifiable information for regulatory reporting.
The second covered scheme is RED III, which sets EU sustainability and greenhouse-gas requirements for renewable energy, including crops used in biofuel production. The Directive also aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and accelerate the transition to clean energy through targets for the share of energy derived from renewable sources by 2030. Both CBAM and RED III specify the use of accredited certifiers and verifiers.
Accreditation is presented as assurance for the accuracy and integrity of submitted data, supporting confidence in regulatory compliance. For UK-based conformity assessment bodies, access to these schemes is described as creating opportunities to provide services within markets governed by EU requirements. The agreement is intended to facilitate that access while maintaining confidence among businesses, regulators, and the public in accredited conformity assessment services.
Statements from UKAS and Swedac on market access
Matt Gantley, UKAS chief executive, said the agreement strengthens cooperation between the two accreditation organisations and demonstrates their commitment to practical solutions for market access. He said the framework would reduce unnecessary duplication by combining local assessment convenience with EU-wide recognition. Gantley also said this would not weaken the robustness of accreditation procedures.
Alexandra Wilton Wahren, Swedac director general, said cooperation is intended to translate mutual trust into practical arrangements supporting trade. She said enabling UK conformity assessment bodies to obtain accreditation against EU requirements for CBAM and RED III would benefit businesses on both sides. Wahren added that it would strengthen confidence in the movement of goods between the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the wider EU market.
Additional schemes planned for expansion
The UKAS-Swedac agreement currently covers assessments relating to CBAM and RED III. Both organisations are working towards expanding its scope to include additional schemes requiring accreditation by an EU-based body. They also aim to allow conformity assessment bodies established outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) to be recognised.
Any expansion is described as building on the initial framework for UK-based verification and certification bodies seeking to meet accreditation requirements associated with the covered European regulatory schemes.