On May 15, 2014 the Pressure Equipment Directive (98/23/EC) was adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council. On July 20, 2016 this PED directive came into force. The PED directive is obligatory throughout the European Union.
Annex I (Essential Safety Requirements) chapter 3.1.3. (Non-destructive tests) of the PED directive states:
“For pressure equipment, non-destructive tests of permanent joints must be carried out by suitable qualified personnel. For pressure be approved by a third-party organization recognized by a Member State pursuant to Article 13.”
The Notified Bodies Forum for Pressure Equipment (NBF-PED) has drafted several Guidelines related to chapter 3.1.3. and other topics of the directive (see PED website of the European Commission)