Key data
| Regulation | Council Decision (EU) 2026/1372, of 8 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601372 |
| Publication | 17 June 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified — pending negotiation, signature and ratification of the final agreement |
| Affected parties | Exporting and importing companies between the EU and South Korea with products subject to certification |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Purpose | Authorization to open negotiations on mutual recognition in conformity assessment, certification and product marking |
European companies that export to South Korea—or import from there—face a costly and silent problem today: certifying the same product twice, once for each market. The Council Decision (EU) 2026/1372, of 8 June 2026, takes the first formal step to eliminate that duplication. The Council has authorized opening negotiations with the Republic of Korea to reach a mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment, certification and product marking.
This means that, if negotiations succeed, a product that passes conformity controls in the EU could enter the Korean market directly without repeating the same tests, and vice versa. For sectors with strict technical requirements, the savings in time and cost can be very significant.
What does this regulation establish?
The decision does not create immediate rights or obligations for companies. What it does is formally authorize the European Commission to initiate negotiations with South Korean authorities to reach a bilateral mutual recognition agreement.
A mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment works like this: if an accredited certification body in the EU evaluates a product and it meets the applicable technical requirements, South Korea accepts that evaluation as valid for its own market, and vice versa. Duplicate tests, parallel procedures and costs associated with certifying the same product twice are eliminated.
The process until this becomes an operational reality has several phases:
- Negotiation: The European Commission negotiates the content of the agreement with South Korea.
- Signature: Both parties sign the agreed text.
- Ratification: The agreement must be ratified by European institutions (and possibly by Member States, depending on scope).
- Entry into force: Only then does the agreement produce effects for companies.
The decision published on 17 June 2026 corresponds only to the first step: authorization to negotiate.
Economic and operational impact
The potential impact is significant for companies with commercial activity between the EU and South Korea in sectors with high technical certification burden. The expected benefits of the agreement, once in force, would be:
- Reduction in certification costs: Eliminating the need to repeat tests and obtain parallel certifications in each market means direct savings in laboratory fees, notified body fees and waiting times.
- Acceleration of time to market: Without double procedures, products can reach the destination market faster, which is especially relevant in sectors with short product cycles like electronics.
- Reduction of non-tariff barriers: Differences in technical requirements and certification are one of the main barriers to bilateral trade. This type of agreement reduces them structurally.
The industrial sectors with the strictest technical requirements—and therefore with the greatest savings potential—are those expressly identified in the regulation:
| Sector | Reason for high certification burden |
|---|---|
| Machinery | Safety directives, CE marking, resistance and emissions testing |
| Electronics | Electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, radio approvals |
| Medical devices | Strict health regulation, clinical and safety testing, notified bodies |
| Automotive | Type approvals, active and passive safety, emissions |
Who does it affect?
- European manufacturers exporting to South Korea products subject to mandatory technical certification.
- European importers of Korean products that currently must recertify in the EU.
- Companies in the machinery, electronics, medical devices and automotive sectors with presence or expansion plans in the Korean market.
- Certification bodies and testing laboratories that provide services to these companies: the agreement may change their business model.
- Foreign trade advisors and certification consultants who manage homologation processes for their clients.
- CFOs and operations directors of companies with supply chains crossing the EU-South Korea border.
Practical example
A Spanish industrial machinery manufacturer that wants to sell its equipment in South Korea must today, in addition to obtaining CE marking in Europe, undergo the certification processes required by Korean regulations, with the costs of testing, translation of technical documentation, intervention of local bodies and waiting times that this entails.
If the mutual recognition agreement eventually enters into force, that same company could present its European certification to Korean authorities and obtain market access without repeating technical tests. The savings depend on the type of product and number of references, but in sectors like machinery or medical devices, the costs of double certification can represent tens of thousands of euros per product line per year.
It is important to emphasize that this scenario is still potential: the published decision only authorizes opening negotiations. The final agreement will require negotiation, signature and ratification before producing any practical effect.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your company exports or imports products subject to certification between the EU and South Korea. If you operate in machinery, electronics, medical devices or automotive with presence in both markets, this agreement will directly affect you when it enters into force.
- Map current double certification costs. Quantify how much you spend on testing, notified bodies and homologation procedures for the Korean market. This data will allow you to size the potential savings and prioritize monitoring of negotiations.
- Follow the progress of negotiations. The European Commission will publish updates on the status of negotiations. Designate someone in your organization (or in your advisory firm) to monitor this.
- Do not anticipate operational changes yet. The agreement is not in force and has no scheduled date. Do not modify your current certification processes based on this decision.
- Consult with your foreign trade or certification advisor to assess how it could affect your product chain and what strategic positioning makes sense to adopt for when the agreement becomes a reality.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mutual recognition agreement in certification and how does it benefit me?
A mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment allows products certified in the EU to be accepted directly in South Korea without repeating tests, and vice versa. For companies, this means a significant reduction in certification costs and time to market, by eliminating the duplication of mandatory technical procedures in each market.
When will the agreement between the EU and South Korea enter into force?
There is no scheduled date. Council Decision (EU) 2026/1372, published on 17 June 2026, only authorizes the opening of negotiations. The final agreement will require an additional process of negotiation between the European Commission and South Korea, followed by signature and ratification. Until that process concludes, there will be no operational changes for companies.
Which sectors will benefit most from this agreement?
The regulation expressly identifies industrial sectors with the strictest technical requirements as the main beneficiaries: machinery, electronics, medical devices and automotive. These are precisely the sectors where double certification entails the greatest cost and time, so the potential savings are higher.
Should I change anything in my certification processes right now?
No. The published decision generates no immediate obligation or right for companies. It only authorizes the European Commission to negotiate. As long as there is no signed and ratified agreement, current certification processes for exporting to South Korea or importing from there remain exactly the same.
Does this agreement affect only exporters or also importers?
It affects both. Both European companies that export products to South Korea and those that import Korean products to the European market could benefit from mutual recognition, as long as their products are subject to conformity assessment, certification and marking in the sectors covered by the agreement.
Official source
Consult full regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601372