How to Verify a Notified Body in NANDO Before Accepting Certification Evidence
A supplier sends a construction-product document showing:
Notified Body No. 1234
Procurement searches the number in NANDO, finds the organization and marks:
NANDO verification rule: finding the body is only the first gate. Confirm the official identity, relevant legislation and the product / technical scope or assessment task claimed in the supplier evidence.
Verified.
That check is incomplete.
The European Commission states that official notified bodies under the Construction Products Regulation can be found through the NANDO-CPR database. NANDO identifies notified bodies and the areas for which they have been notified.
For procurement, the real verification task is therefore:
Does this notified body exist, and is it notified for the legislation, product area or assessment task claimed in the supplier's evidence?
Use this workflow:
Supplier Evidence
↓
Extract Notified-Body Details
↓
Search NANDO
↓
Confirm Body Identity
↓
Confirm Relevant Legislation
↓
Review Scope / Task
↓
Cross-Check Supplier Evidence
↓
PASS
Notified-body check passed for the claimed scope.
HOLD
Identity or scope remains unclear.
NOT SUPPORTED
The NANDO record does not support the claimed notified-body role.
The key principle is:
Body Exists ≠ Body Is Relevant to This Claim
When Should Procurement Use NANDO?
Use NANDO when supplier evidence claims that a notified body participated in a conformity-assessment activity.
Use this check only after the upstream CE Marking Verification and DoP / DoPC Declaration Review indicate that notified-body involvement is relevant to the applicable route.
The reference may appear in:
- CE-related documentation;
- a declaration;
- certification evidence;
- factory production control documentation;
- an assessment report;
- other conformity-assessment records.
A notified body is an organization designated to perform conformity-assessment activities required by applicable EU product legislation.
For construction products, the Commission provides the NANDO-CPR resource for the official notified bodies under the CPR.
But do not use NANDO simply because a product displays a CE mark.
First establish whether notified-body involvement is actually relevant to the applicable assessment route.
NANDO is for verifying the claimed notified-body role, not for searching whether a construction product is generally “CE certified.”
Step 1: Extract the Claim Before Opening NANDO
Do not begin by randomly searching organization names.
First record exactly what the supplier documentation claims.
| Field | Supplier Evidence |
|---|---|
| Notified Body Number | 1234 |
| Body Name | ABC Testing Ltd. |
| Manufacturer | Supplier A |
| Product | Product X |
| Technical Reference | EN xxxx |
| Regulation / Framework | CPR |
| Certificate / Report Ref. | CERT-001 |
| Claimed Activity | Certification |
The purpose is simple:
Know what you are trying to verify.
Otherwise, procurement may confirm that an organization exists without confirming the specific claim made in the supplier document.
Step 2: Search the Notified Body in NANDO
Where a notified-body identification number is provided, start with that number.
It is usually more precise than relying only on:
- abbreviated company names;
- translations;
- historical company names;
- group-company branding.
Result: FOUND
Continue to the identity check.
Result: NOT FOUND
Use:
HOLD
Do not immediately write:
“Fake certificate.”
Possible explanations could include:
- an incorrect number;
- a typing error;
- outdated supplier documentation;
- a different assessment route;
- an organization or notification change.
The correct procurement action is to request clarification before accepting the evidence.
Step 3: Confirm the Body Identity
Finding the number is only the first gate.
Compare the supplier evidence with the official record.
| Field | Supplier Evidence | NANDO | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| NB Number | 1234 | 1234 | PASS |
| Body Name | ABC Testing | ABC Testing Ltd. | PASS |
| Country | Germany | Germany | PASS |
| Organization Details | — | Available | Review |
Check:
- notified-body number;
- official organization name;
- country;
- address or other identifying information where useful.
Minor naming differences may be explainable.
A different identification number or materially different entity requires investigation.
A similar organization name is not enough if the official identity does not match.
Step 4: Confirm the Relevant Legislation
This is where many quick NANDO checks stop too early.
An organization can be a legitimate notified body under one EU legislative framework without being notified for every type of CE-marked product.
For construction-product evidence, confirm that the relevant notification actually relates to the construction-products framework rather than an unrelated area.
Use a simple check:
| Verification | Result |
|---|---|
| Body exists | PASS |
| Relevant legislation identified | PASS / HOLD |
| Supplier evidence refers to same framework | PASS / HOLD |
The rule is:
The correct organization under the wrong legislation does not verify the supplier's claim.
Step 5: Review the Notification Scope and Task
This is the most important part of the NANDO review.
The Commission describes NANDO as identifying notified bodies and technical assessment bodies responsible for construction products, with notifications entered into the database following notification by public authorities.
Once the body and legislation match, review the available notification detail.
Look for information relevant to:
- Product / Product Family
- Technical Area
- Technical Specification
- Assessment Activity
- Certification Task
- Other Notification Scope
The question is not merely:
Is ABC Testing a notified body?
It is:
Is ABC Testing notified to perform the activity that this supplier document says it performed?
Identity Verification vs Scope Verification
Think of the check in three layers.
Layer 1 — Identity
Is this the organization represented by the notified-body number?
Check:
- NB number;
- official name;
- country.
Layer 2 — Legislation
Is the organization notified under the relevant regulatory framework?
For this workflow:
Construction Products Regulation relevance.
Layer 3 — Scope / Task
Does the notification cover the relevant product area or conformity-assessment task?
Only after these layers align should procurement treat the notified-body claim as supported.
A real notified body can still be the wrong notified body for the supplier's specific claim.
Step 6: Cross-Check Supplier Evidence Against NANDO
Create one working matrix.
| Verification Field | Supplier Evidence | NANDO | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NB Number | 1234 | 1234 | PASS |
| Body Name | ABC Testing | ABC Testing Ltd. | PASS |
| Legislation | CPR | CPR | PASS |
| Product / Scope | Product X | Relevant scope | PASS / Review |
| Technical Reference | EN xxxx | Relevant | PASS / Review |
| Claimed Task | Certification | Included | PASS |
| Final Status | VERIFIED / HOLD |
Do not force the result to PASS simply because most rows match.
A material inconsistency should remain:
HOLD / CLARIFY
until it is resolved.
What If the Body Exists but the Scope Is Unclear?
This is common enough to need its own rule.
You may find:
- the correct notified-body number;
- correct company name;
- correct legislation;
but the available scope wording does not obviously match the supplier's product.
Do not convert uncertainty into approval.
Use this sequence:
- Record or save the relevant NANDO information.
- Compare the technical specification in the supplier document.
- Ask the supplier which NANDO scope supports the claimed activity.
- Review the certificate or assessment reference.
- Escalate for technical review if the relationship remains unclear.
Status:
HOLD
The correct principle is:
Unclear scope does not become PASS simply because the body exists.
Step 7: Check Timing Where It Matters
Record:
- supplier document date;
- certificate or report date;
- NANDO search date;
- notification information relevant to the review.
If an old supplier document appears inconsistent with the body's current status, investigate whether the body's relevant role applied when the document was issued.
Do not turn every old document into a historical legal investigation.
Use deeper review when timing creates a material compliance question.
NANDO Verification Checklist
Supplier Evidence
- Notified-body number recorded
- Body name recorded
- Product identified
- Technical reference recorded
- Claimed activity identified
- Certificate / report reference recorded
Body Identity
- Body found in NANDO
- NB number matches
- Organization name matches
- Country matches
- Identity is reasonably consistent
Notification
- Relevant legislation confirmed
- Relevant product / technical area reviewed
- Claimed assessment task reviewed
- Scope appears applicable
Cross-Check
- Supplier product aligns
- Technical reference aligns
- Claimed body role aligns
- Material inconsistencies resolved
Final Status
VERIFIED FOR CLAIMED SCOPE
HOLD / CLARIFY
NOT SUPPORTED
NANDO Verification Decision Gate
Supplier Document Shows a Notified Body
If notified-body evidence is mandatory for approval, add the body number, scope check and result to the Construction Material Submittal Checklist before formal issue.
↓
Body Found in NANDO?
NO
→ HOLD
YES
↓
Body Identity Matches?
NO
→ HOLD
YES
↓
Relevant Legislation Matches?
NO
→ NOT SUPPORTED / CLARIFY
YES
↓
Relevant Product / Scope / Task Covered?
NO
→ DO NOT ACCEPT CLAIM YET
UNCLEAR
→ HOLD
YES
↓
Supplier Evidence Consistent With NANDO?
NO
→ HOLD
YES
↓
NOTIFIED BODY CHECK PASSED
NANDO Verification Does Not Authenticate the Supplier's Certificate
This distinction is critical.
Treat NANDO as one focused step within the wider Construction Product Certification for Procurement workflow rather than as a complete certificate-authentication or material-approval process.
Finding an organization in NANDO and confirming its notification scope supports the conclusion that:
the organization is an officially notified body for the relevant area being reviewed.
It does not automatically prove that:
the supplier's specific PDF was genuinely issued by that body.
If the document itself remains suspicious, procurement may need to:
- check the certificate number in the body's own verification system;
- verify the document reference;
- contact the notified body;
- request original documentation;
- compare other supporting evidence.
So keep two checks separate:
NANDO Check
Is the body appropriately notified?
Certificate Authentication
Did this body really issue this specific document?
They are not the same task.
What If the Document Is Called a “CE Certificate”?
Do not rely on the title alone.
A supplier may send a file named:
CE Certificate
The procurement team should still determine:
- What document is this?
- Who issued it?
- What assessment task was performed?
- Which product does it cover?
- What technical specification does it reference?
- Does the notified-body scope support that task?
The document title is less important than the actual claimed conformity-assessment role.
Common NANDO Verification Mistakes
Searching Only the Company Name
Use the notified-body number where available.
Stopping Once the Body Is Found
Check legislation and scope.
Assuming a Real Body Is Valid for Every Product
Notification is not unlimited.
Ignoring the Claimed Assessment Task
Verify what the body was actually notified to do.
Accepting an Unclear Product Scope
Use HOLD until applicability is established.
Treating NANDO as Certificate Authentication
The supplier document may require a separate authenticity check.
Treating Notified-Body Verification as Final Material Approval
It is only one part of the wider product-compliance review.
NANDO Verification Record
Keep a dated record.
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| Supplier | ABC Manufacturing |
| Product | Product X |
| NB Number | 1234 |
| Body Name | ABC Testing Ltd. |
| NANDO Search Date | — |
| Relevant Legislation | — |
| Product / Scope | — |
| Assessment Task | — |
| Supplier Document Ref. | — |
| Identity Result | Pass / Hold |
| Scope Result | Pass / Hold |
| Final Status | Verified / Hold / Not Supported |
| Reviewer | — |
| Notes | — |
This creates a much stronger procurement record than:
“NB checked.”
Where NANDO Verification Fits in Material Approval
The wider workflow is:
After final approval, record the approved product and supporting compliance references in the Material Approval Register before procurement release.
Once the body / legislation / scope / task are supported, move the evidence into the Construction Material Submittal Process for formal review.
Supplier Proposed Product
↓
Verify CE Claim
↓
Review Declaration and Declared Performance
↓
Notified Body Referenced and Relevant?
NO
→ Continue according to applicable route
YES
↓
Verify Notified Body in NANDO
↓
Body / Scope / Task Supported?
NO / UNCLEAR
→ HOLD
YES
↓
Complete Compliance Evidence
↓
Complete Material Submittal
↓
Formal Material Approval
NANDO verification is therefore a focused verification gate, not the entire compliance process.
Tools and Resources for Notified-Body Verification
Construction procurement teams may use:
- NANDO
- EU Construction Products Regulation Resources
- Harmonised Technical Specification Resources
- Declaration / CE Guidance
- Notified-Body Certificate Search Tools
- Product Certification Resources
- Material Submittal Templates
- Document Verification Tools
The European Commission's CPR resources direct users to NANDO-CPR for the official notified bodies under the construction-products framework.
Build Procurement Hub organizes these resources around the actual material-verification workflow so buyers can move from a notified-body number in supplier evidence to the appropriate official database, verify the claimed scope and then return to the material-approval process.
Verify the Body, the Framework and the Claimed Scope
Do not stop when the notified-body number appears in NANDO. Confirm the official organization, relevant legislation, product area or technical scope and the actual assessment task claimed in the supplier evidence. Keep certificate authentication as a separate check where the specific PDF still needs verification.
FAQ
How do I verify a notified body in NANDO?
Search the notified-body number or organization, confirm its identity, then review whether the notification covers the relevant legislation, product area and assessment task claimed by the supplier.
If a notified body appears in NANDO, does that prove the supplier's certificate is genuine?
No. NANDO can support verification of the body's notified status and scope, but the specific certificate may still require separate authentication.
Can a notified body be real but still be wrong for my product?
Yes. An organization may be officially notified without being notified for the particular legislation, product scope or task claimed in the supplier evidence.
What should procurement do if the scope is unclear?
Record the check as HOLD, request clarification and compare the relevant technical and certificate references before accepting the notified-body claim.
The core principle is:
Finding a notified-body number in NANDO is only the first check. Procurement should also confirm that the body is notified under the relevant legislation and for the scope or assessment task claimed in the supplier's evidence.
