Transparency is one of the AI Act’s core principles. For high-risk AI systems it is implemented through a public database in which providers register their systems before they reach the market.
Who must register
Providers of Annex III high-risk AI systems register themselves and their system before placing it on the market or putting it into service. Providers who conclude that their system does not pose a high risk despite being listed in Annex III also register and must document that assessment. Deployers that are EU institutions, bodies or agencies or public authorities in member states register their use of the system.
What becomes public
The database contains information on the provider, the system, its intended purpose and status, and the conformity assessment. It is in principle publicly accessible. A secure non-public section applies to systems in law enforcement, migration, asylum and border control.
Practical significance
Registration is more than a formality: it makes your own classification publicly traceable. Anyone classifying a system as not high-risk should document the reasoning so it withstands scrutiny. Under the Digital Omnibus, obligations for Annex III systems apply from 2 December 2027.
Relevance for Switzerland
Swiss providers placing high-risk systems on the EU market register like EU providers; providers without an EU establishment also need an authorised representative in the Union. Our high-risk classification checklist reviews the classification itself.