12. How do the obligations under Chapter II of the Data Act relate to mechanisms of conformity assessment or type approval?

The Data Act applies to all connected products, including those that are subject to specific type approval or conformity assessment regimes (e.g. motor vehicles, aircraft, and medical devices).

The Data Act does not have specific provisions with respect to mechanisms of conformity assessment, but Data Act obligations apply. As a general rule, therefore, a connected product can only be placed on the market if it complies with all applicable Data Act provisions and if a conformity assessment has been carried out in accordance with applicable legislation. In other words, the specific need for a connected product to undergo a conformity assessment procedure is determined by requirements set in legislation other than the Data Act.