GDPR Article 42 explicitly establishes a formal, voluntary certification mechanism. Europrivacy is currently the flagship pan-European scheme, approved by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) as a "European Data Protection Seal," legally recognised across all 30 EU/EEA member states. Certification applies to specific data processing activities you select (the "Target of Evaluation"), not your whole organisation.
Why GDPR Certification Is Genuinely Different From HIPAA's Situation
Unlike HIPAA, which has no officially recognised certification of any kind, GDPR was written with certification specifically in mind. Article 42 states that supervisory authorities and the Commission "shall encourage" the establishment of certification mechanisms, and Article 43 sets out how certification bodies must be accredited before they can issue valid certification decisions.
On 15 April 2026, the EDPB adopted Opinion 14/2026, confirming an updated set of Europrivacy certification criteria (version 82). The same day, Opinion 15/2026 extended Europrivacy's use to international data transfers under Article 46 for the first time — alongside, not replacing, mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses.
What Gets Certified — And What Doesn't
A crucial, often-missed distinction: GDPR only allows specific data processing activities to be certified — not entire organisations, products, or services. Europrivacy calls the selected activities the "Target of Evaluation" (ToE). This is structurally different from ISO 9001 or ISO 27001, which certify your whole management system.
Relevance for Non-EU Organisations — Including India
The 2026 update to Europrivacy's scope explicitly confirms coverage for controllers and processors established outside Europe who fall under GDPR's extraterritorial reach via Article 3(2). For Indian exporters, SaaS companies, and service providers with EU customers, this makes Europrivacy a genuine, internationally recognised way to demonstrate GDPR-aligned practices, distinct from (and complementary to) India's own DPDP Act obligations.
Certification decisions under Article 42 must be issued by a body specifically accredited for that scheme — not any general management-system certification body. London Cert conducts your readiness assessment and gap analysis directly, and facilitates the final certification decision through an appropriately accredited certification body.
Start Your GDPR Certification Journey
Free consultation. We help you select your first Target of Evaluation and scope the work.
Get Free Quote →Already Have ISO 27701?
Privacy Information Management pairs naturally with GDPR certification work.
Explore ISO 27701 →Real value of GDPR certification
Based on outcomes reported by organisations pursuing Europrivacy.
Builds Genuine Trust With EU Partners
Independently assessed certification against EDPB-approved criteria is a tangible trust signal for EU customers and partners.
Now Usable for International Transfers
Since April 2026, Europrivacy can support "appropriate safeguards" for transferring data outside the EU under Article 46.
Directly Relevant for Indian Exporters
2026's scope extension explicitly covers non-EU organisations under Article 3(2).
Focused, Achievable Scope
Certifying specific processing activities rather than your whole organisation makes initial certification more achievable.
Legally Recognised Across 30 States
Europrivacy is formally recognised by the authorities of all EU and EEA member states.
Pairs With ISO 27701
Organisations already holding ISO 27701 have significant existing groundwork relevant to Europrivacy certification.
What organisations say about London Cert's GDPR support
Feedback from businesses we've helped toward Europrivacy certification.
“As an Indian SaaS company serving EU clients, our biggest procurement blocker was demonstrating genuine GDPR alignment. London Cert helped us select the right processing activities to certify first.”
“London Cert was upfront that the final certification decision needed to come from an accredited body, and coordinated that seamlessly while doing all our readiness work directly.”
“We already had ISO 27701 — London Cert showed us exactly how that work carried over into our Europrivacy Target of Evaluation, saving real time.”
How the EDPB-approved scheme works
Europrivacy is currently the flagship, pan-European certification scheme under GDPR Article 42.
First EDPB Approval — 2022
The EDPB first approved Europrivacy's certification criteria on 10 October 2022 (Opinion 28/2022) as the first European Data Protection Seal under Article 42(5).
Updated Criteria — April 2026
Opinion 14/2026 confirmed updated criteria (version 82), refining and operationalising the scheme into a more granular, auditable, practice-oriented framework.
Extended to International Transfers
Opinion 15/2026, adopted the same day, recognised Europrivacy criteria as usable for international data transfers under Articles 42 and 46 — a first for any GDPR certification scheme.
Extended Scope — Non-EU Organisations
The scheme's scope now explicitly includes controllers and processors established outside Europe subject to GDPR's Article 3(2) extraterritorial reach.
Europrivacy is industry-agnostic and applicable to virtually any type of data processing, including newer contexts like AI, IoT, and blockchain-based processing.
Don't confuse EU GDPR with UK GDPR
Since Brexit, the UK operates its own separate, though closely related, data protection regime.
The UK retained EU GDPR's core text as "UK GDPR" following Brexit, but it is now a distinct legal regime, enforced by the ICO, not the EDPB or any EU supervisory authority.
UK GDPR includes its own certification provisions, broadly mirroring Article 42 EU GDPR, with UK-specific accredited certification schemes operating under UKAS rather than EU accreditation routes.
A UK business serving both UK and EU customers may need to address both regimes — Europrivacy certification addresses the EU GDPR side specifically, not UK GDPR compliance by itself.
Whether you need EU GDPR certification, UK GDPR compliance work, or both depends on where your organisation is established and where your data subjects are located.
London Cert can help you determine which regime(s) genuinely apply to your specific data processing activities and customer base during your free consultation.
How GDPR certification actually works
A clear, honest process from first call to your certified processing activities.
Free Consultation & ToE Selection
We help you identify which data processing activities to select as your initial Target of Evaluation, and provide a fixed quote within 24 hours.
Readiness Assessment & Gap Analysis
We assess your current practices against Europrivacy's certification criteria and identify what needs to change.
Remediation & Documentation
We help you close identified gaps and build the documentation your certification assessment will require.
Certification via Accredited Body
We facilitate your final assessment and certification decision through an appropriately accredited certification body for the Europrivacy scheme.
GDPR Certification — every question answered
The most-asked questions — straight, accurate answers.
Yes, unlike some other compliance regimes, GDPR Article 42 explicitly establishes a formal certification mechanism. Europrivacy is currently the flagship scheme, approved by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) as a European Data Protection Seal, legally recognised across all 30 EU/EEA member states. It is a voluntary accountability mechanism, not a mandatory requirement.
Still have questions?
Our data protection specialists are available for a free consultation.
Talk to an Expert →Explore ISO 27701 Too
Privacy Information Management System certification pairs naturally with GDPR work.
Explore ISO 27701 →