Federal Government Reaffirms Role of DAkkS – Debate on Accreditation Reform Continues

The federal government has reiterated in a reply to the Bundestag that the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) is the central institution of Germany's quality infrastructure. At the same time, it continues to pursue technical reviews of possible reforms. The current legal framework allows different models, ranging from delegating tasks to private operators to full state provision.

Significance for climate action and the energy transition

Accreditation confirms the technical competence and impartiality of testing bodies, calibration laboratories and certification bodies. This is central to climate action and the energy transition: emission measurements, efficiency certificates and inspections of solar installations, battery systems or heat pumps all rely on reliable procedures. Internationally recognised accreditations simplify the cross-border use of these results, support trade in climate-friendly technologies and provide robust comparability for subsidies and regulation.

Trigger of the debate

Feedback from industry, laboratories and associations criticises particularly long procedure times and the resulting competitive disadvantages for conformity assessment bodies. Companies, especially from innovation-driven climate sectors, report delayed market access. At the same time, expert circles warn that hasty structural changes could weaken Germany's influence in international standardisation and accreditation forums.

Government strategy approaches

At the end of March 2026, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action published a policy paper outlining an accreditation strategy. It mentions a more reliable shareholder structure for DAkkS, clearer governance rules and measures to improve efficiency and service. The federal government maintains the sovereign role of national accreditation, but in its recent reply does not specify concrete legislative changes. Further reviews and consultations are pending.

Conflict of goals: speed versus trust

The discussion revolves around two objectives: speeding up procedures to bring innovations to market faster, while safeguarding the credibility and international acceptance of the system. Quick fixes could jeopardise the recognition of German testing and certification results abroad—with consequences for exports of climate-relevant products. Conversely, lengthy timelines hinder investment, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Reform options within the legal framework

The Accreditation Bodies Act permits different implementation models. In addition to continued delegation, a stronger state presence and organisational improvements are conceivable. Digital workflows, clearer deadlines and more service-oriented processes are being discussed. For the public sector, preserving EU legal compliance and international recognition mechanisms remains crucial; deviations could lead to duplicate testing and additional costs.

Next steps and practical advice

In the short term, existing procedures remain in place. Companies and laboratories can prepare by providing robust evidence of their technical competence and by optimising digital processes. In the medium term—depending on political decisions—more efficient procedures and clearer governance structures are possible.

The accreditation landscape is an often overlooked but central pillar for climate protection and economic transformation. The decisive task will be to design reforms that reduce pressure on innovation while not endangering trust and international acceptance.