Opinion 15/2026 on the Europrivacy certification criteria regarding their approval by the Board as European Data Protection Seal to be used as tool for transfers pursuant to Articles 42 and 46 GDPR

The European Data Protection Board has published its formal Opinion approving the updated Europrivacy certification criteria as a European Data Protection Seal. This approval is significant as it also recognizes this specific seal as a valid tool for facilitating international data transfers under Article 46 of the GDPR, providing an alternative to mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses.

This development primarily affects organizations currently using or considering the Europrivacy certification framework, especially those seeking a streamlined compliance tool for transferring personal data to third countries. Data exporters and importers involved in such transfers should assess its relevance.

Compliance teams should review this Opinion to understand the seal's new status as a transfer mechanism. Organizations considering certification should evaluate if the Europrivacy criteria align with their data processing operations and transfer needs, comparing it against other transfer tools. Those already certified under Europrivacy should confirm their certification aligns with this newly approved version to ensure its validity for transfers.