Source: OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024 · Consolidated textCurrent language: EN
- Artificial intelligence act
Basic legislative acts
- AI act regulation
Article 76 Supervision of testing in real world conditions by market surveillance authorities
Summary What does Article 76 of the AI act regulation say?
This article establishes the oversight role of market surveillance authorities specifically in the context of real-world testing of AI systems.
It connects directly to Articles 60 and 61, which set out the conditions for real-world testing, and to Article 58 on AI regulatory sandboxes.
Essentially, this article gives market surveillance authorities the tools to monitor, intervene in, and if necessary halt real-world testing activities where conditions are not being met or where serious incidents arise.
Important points:
- Market surveillance authorities are empowered to suspend, terminate, or require modifications to real-world testing of AI systems where conditions are breached or a serious incident is reported.
- Where a decision or objection is issued, market surveillance authorities must state the grounds and explain how the provider or prospective provider can challenge it.
- Market surveillance authorities must share the grounds for any such decision with their counterparts in other Member States where the same AI system has been tested.
Springlex's summary of the article is a reading aid, not a substitute for the legal text.
Market surveillance authorities shall have competences and powers to ensure that testing in real world conditions is in accordance with this Regulation.
- ▼M1ModificationInsertedSubparagraph of paragraph 1 inserted by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, Article 1(33). Published in the Official Journal 24 July 2026.
Where testing in real world conditions is based on Article 60a, any reference to a market surveillance authority in this Article shall be construed as a reference to the national competent authority or appropriate authority under the Union harmonisation legislation listed in Section B of Annex I, and references to Article 60 shall be construed as references to Article 60a, as appropriate.
Where testing in real world conditions is conducted for AI systems that are supervised within an AI regulatory sandbox under Article 58, the market surveillance authorities shall verify the compliance with Article 60 as part of their supervisory role for the AI regulatory sandbox. Those authorities may, as appropriate, allow the testing in real world conditions to be conducted by the provider or prospective provider, in derogation from the conditions set out in Article 60(4), points (f) and (g).
Where a market surveillance authority has been informed by the prospective provider, the provider or any third party of a serious incident or has other grounds for considering that the conditions set out in Articles 60 and 61 are not met, it may take either of the following decisions on its territory, as appropriate:
to suspend or terminate the testing in real world conditions;
to require the provider or prospective provider and the deployer or prospective deployer to modify any aspect of the testing in real world conditions.
Where a market surveillance authority has taken a decision referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, or has issued an objection within the meaning of Article 60(4), point (b), the decision or the objection shall indicate the grounds therefor and how the provider or prospective provider can challenge the decision or objection.
Where applicable, where a market surveillance authority has taken a decision referred to in paragraph 3, it shall communicate the grounds therefor to the market surveillance authorities of other Member States in which the AI system has been tested in accordance with the testing plan.
Relevant recitals
Recital 156 Powers of market surveillance authorities
In order to ensure an appropriate and effective enforcement of the requirements and obligations set out by this Regulation, which is Union harmonisation legislation, the system of market surveillance and compliance of products established by Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 should apply in its entirety. Market surveillance authorities designated pursuant to this Regulation should have all enforcement powers laid down in this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and should exercise their powers and carry out their duties independently, impartially and without bias. Although the majority of AI systems are not subject to specific requirements and obligations under this Regulation, market surveillance authorities may take measures in relation to all AI systems when they present a risk in accordance with this Regulation. Due to the specific nature of Union institutions, agencies and bodies falling within the scope of this Regulation, it is appropriate to designate the European Data Protection Supervisor as a competent market surveillance authority for them. This should be without prejudice to the designation of national competent authorities by the Member States. Market surveillance activities should not affect the ability of the supervised entities to carry out their tasks independently, when such independence is required by Union law.
Springlex and this text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. No liability is assumed for its content. The authentic version of this act is the one published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
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conformity assessment
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sandbox plan
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instructions for use
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serious incident
- the death of a person, or serious harm to a person’s health;
- a serious and irreversible disruption of the management or operation of critical infrastructure;
- the infringement of obligations under Union law intended to protect fundamental rights;
- serious harm to property or the environment;
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testing in real-world conditions
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provider
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national competent authority
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notifying authority
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market surveillance authority
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critical infrastructure
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subject
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conformity assessment body
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deployer
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intended purpose
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AI regulatory sandbox
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AI system
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risk
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general-purpose AI model