Guidelines 01/2018 on certification and identifying certification criteria in accordance with Articles 42 and 43 of the GDPR

Section 4.2  Approval of criteria by EDPB for the European Data Protection Seal

35. A certification body can also issue certification in accordance with criteria approved by the EDPB for a European Data Protection Seal. Certification criteria approved by the EDPB pursuant to Article 63 may result in a European Data Protection Seal (Article 42(5)). In light of existing certification and accreditation conventions, the EDPB acknowledges that it is desirable to avoid fragmentation of the data protection certification market. It notes that Article 42(1) provides that Member States, supervisory authorities, the Board and the Commission shall encourage the establishment of certification mechanisms, in particular at Union level.