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Article 18

UpcomingConditional timing

Retain Required High-Risk AI Documentation for Ten Years

Applies to Provider; High-Risk AI.

Actors
Provider
AI class
High-Risk AI
Themes
Data, Privacy & InformationGovernance & Accountability

Tracker Guidance

Keep the required high-risk AI documentation available to national competent authorities for 10 years after the system is placed on the market or put into service. This includes the technical documentation, quality-management documentation, applicable notified-body change documentation and decisions, and the EU declaration of conformity. Financial institutions may maintain the technical documentation within the documentation required by relevant Union financial-services law. For Article 6(1)/Annex I systems, also check Article 2(13) for any permitted limitation based on equivalent or higher sectoral Union harmonisation requirements.

Official text

Article 18Official source
1. The provider shall, for a period ending 10 years after the high-risk AI system has been placed on the market or put into service, keep at the disposal of the national competent authorities: (a) the technical documentation referred to in Article 11; (b) the documentation concerning the quality management system referred to in Article 17; (c) the documentation concerning the changes approved by notified bodies, where applicable; (d) the decisions and other documents issued by the notified bodies, where applicable; (e) the EU declaration of conformity referred to in Article 47. 2. Each Member State shall determine conditions under which the documentation referred to in paragraph 1 remains at the disposal of the national competent authorities for the period indicated in that paragraph for the cases when a provider or its authorised representative established on its territory goes bankrupt or ceases its activity prior to the end of that period. 3. Providers that are financial institutions subject to requirements regarding their internal governance, arrangements or processes under Union financial services law shall maintain the technical documentation as part of the documentation kept under the relevant Union financial services law.

Timing depends on the system

  • 2 Dec 2027Article 6(2) / Annex III high-risk AI
  • 2 Aug 2028Article 6(1) / Annex I Section A high-risk AI
  • 2 Dec 2027Pre-existing Annex III high-risk AI type/model first placed on the market or put into service before 2027-12-02
  • 2 Aug 2028Pre-existing Article 6(1) / Annex I high-risk AI type/model first placed on the market or put into service before 2028-08-02
  • 2 Aug 2030Pre-existing high-risk AI intended to be used by public authorities

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Article 18: Retain Required High-Risk AI Documentation for Ten Years | EU AI Act Library