Chapter III · High-risk AI systems
Article 17 — Quality management system
Official text
Each paragraph records where its wording comes from. This site reproduces the text; the authentic publication is the Official Journal. Text checked as byte-identical to the Official Journal is marked as reproduced from it; consolidated text is editorial and has no legal value. Paragraphs, subparagraphs and points each have their own link.
Providers of high-risk AI systems shall put a quality management system in place that ensures compliance with this Regulation. That system shall be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions, and shall include at least the following aspects:
- (a)
a strategy for regulatory compliance, including compliance with conformity assessment procedures and procedures for the management of modifications to the high-risk AI system;
- (b)
techniques, procedures and systematic actions to be used for the design, design control and design verification of the high-risk AI system;
- (c)
techniques, procedures and systematic actions to be used for the development, quality control and quality assurance of the high-risk AI system;
- (d)
examination, test and validation procedures to be carried out before, during and after the development of the high-risk AI system, and the frequency with which they have to be carried out;
- (e)
technical specifications, including standards, to be applied and, where the relevant harmonised standards are not applied in full or do not cover all of the relevant requirements set out in Section 2, the means to be used to ensure that the high-risk AI system complies with those requirements;
- (f)
systems and procedures for data management, including data acquisition, data collection, data analysis, data labelling, data storage, data filtration, data mining, data aggregation, data retention and any other operation regarding the data that is performed before and for the purpose of the placing on the market or the putting into service of high-risk AI systems;
- (g)
the risk management system referred to in Article 9;
- (h)
the setting-up, implementation and maintenance of a post-market monitoring system, in accordance with Article 72;
- (i)
procedures related to the reporting of a serious incident in accordance with Article 73;
- (j)
the handling of communication with national competent authorities, other relevant authorities, including those providing or supporting the access to data, notified bodies, other operators, customers or other interested parties;
- (k)
systems and procedures for record-keeping of all relevant documentation and information;
- (l)
resource management, including security-of-supply related measures;
- (m)
an accountability framework setting out the responsibilities of the management and other staff with regard to all the aspects listed in this paragraph.
Reproduced from the Official Journal · Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · EN
The implementation of the aspects referred to in paragraph 1 shall be proportionate to the size of the provider’s organisation, in particular, if the provider is an SME, including a start-up, or an SMC. Providers shall, in any event, respect the degree of rigour and the level of protection required to ensure the compliance of their high-risk AI systems with this Regulation.
Consolidated text — no legal value · amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744
Providers of high-risk AI systems that are subject to obligations regarding quality management systems or an equivalent function under relevant sectoral Union law may include the aspects listed in paragraph 1 as part of the quality management systems pursuant to that law.
Reproduced from the Official Journal · Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · EN
For providers that are financial institutions subject to requirements regarding their internal governance, arrangements or processes under Union financial services law, the obligation to put in place a quality management system, with the exception of paragraph 1, points (g), (h) and (i) of this Article, shall be deemed to be fulfilled by complying with the rules on internal governance arrangements or processes pursuant to the relevant Union financial services law. To that end, any harmonised standards referred to in Article 40 shall be taken into account.
Reproduced from the Official Journal · Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · EN
Article 17 requirement modelling
Discuss how quality management requirements can be represented as explicit rules, with responsibilities, conditions and evidence links. The scope, available materials and review status are defined for each engagement.
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What the article requiresUnder review
- 01Put a quality management system in place, documented in written policies, procedures and instructions, and proportionate to the size of the organisation.
- 02Set out a strategy for regulatory compliance, including compliance with conformity assessment procedures and procedures for managing modifications.
- 03Control the design, design verification and the design control of the system.
- 04Control development, quality control and quality assurance.
- 05Define examination, test and validation procedures, and how often they are carried out.
- 06Identify the technical specifications and standards applied, and, where harmonised standards are not applied in full, the means used to meet the requirements.
- 07Operate systems and procedures for data management, covering acquisition, collection, analysis, labelling, storage, filtration, mining, aggregation and retention.
- 08Operate the risk management system of Article 9.
- 09Set up and operate a post-market monitoring system under Article 72.
- 10Operate procedures for reporting serious incidents under Article 73.
- 11Handle communication with competent authorities, notified bodies, customers and other operators.
- 12Keep records of all relevant documentation and information.
- 13Manage resources, including security-of-supply measures.
- 14Define an accountability framework setting out the responsibilities of management and staff.
In practiceUnder review
Article 17 is the first AI Act article with a published European standard: EN 18286, available from CEN-CENELEC since 22 July 2026. Inclusiveness Newsletter, Edition 16, reports that its reference has not been published in the Official Journal. That makes Article 17 a practical starting point for structured quality-management documentation. Requirement modelling for Article 17 is available on request; it restates the Article 17 duties, does not reproduce EN 18286 and is not a clause-by-clause mapping of the standard.
Standards addressing this articleUnder review
- EN 18286Quality management system for EU AI Act regulatory purposesAvailable since 22 July 2026 (DAV). Not cited in the Official Journal according to Inclusiveness Newsletter, Edition 16 (8 September 2026); not independently checked against the Official Journal. · 15 modelled requirements
- EN ISO/IEC 42001AI management systemApproved for direct adoption as a European standard. Not intended to be harmonised under the AI Act.
Training and practical application
In-house training on building and documenting a quality management system under Article 17 with EN 18286. Training is not certification.
View the EN 18286 course →