§ EU AI Act · Article 56
AI Act Article 56: Obligations, Deadlines & Penalties
At a glance
Article 56 of the AI Act imposes 15 obligations on AI Office, Commission, participants in codes of practice. At least one obligation carries an explicit compliance deadline.
§ Obligations
All obligations under Article 56
Obligation 1
The AI Office shall encourage and facilitate the drawing up of codes of practice at Union level to contribute to the proper application of the Regulation.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
facilitate
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 2
The AI Office and the Board shall aim to ensure that codes of practice cover obligations in Articles 53 and 55, including keeping information up to date, detailing training data summaries, identifying systemic risks, and managing those risks.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
ensure
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 3
The AI Office and the Board shall aim to ensure that codes of practice clearly set out specific objectives and contain commitments or measures, including key performance indicators, to achieve those objectives.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
ensure
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 4
The AI Office shall aim to ensure that participants in codes of practice report regularly on the implementation of commitments and measures, including outcomes measured against key performance indicators.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
ensure
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 5
Participants in codes of practice shall report regularly to the AI Office on the implementation of commitments and measures taken and their outcomes.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
participants in codes of practice
- Action required
-
report
- Deadline
-
regularly
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 6
The AI Office and the Board shall regularly monitor and evaluate the achievement of the objectives of the codes of practice and their contribution to the proper application of the Regulation.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
monitor
- Deadline
-
regularly
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 7
The AI Office and the Board shall assess whether the codes of practice cover the obligations provided for in Articles 53 and 55.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
assess
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 8
The AI Office and the Board shall publish their assessment of the adequacy of the codes of practice.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
publish
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 9
The Commission may approve a code of practice and give it general validity within the Union by way of an implementing act.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
Commission
- Action required
-
approve
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 10
The AI Office may invite all providers of general-purpose AI models to adhere to the codes of practice.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
invite
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 11
The AI Office shall encourage and facilitate the review and adaptation of the codes of practice, in particular in light of emerging standards.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
facilitate
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 12
The AI Office shall assist in the assessment of available standards.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
assist
- Deadline
-
—
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 13
Codes of practice shall be ready at the latest by 2 May 2025.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
participants in codes of practice
- Action required
-
finalize
- Deadline
-
2 May 2025
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 14
The AI Office shall take the necessary steps, including inviting providers, to ensure codes of practice are ready by the deadline.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
AI Office
- Action required
-
take steps
- Deadline
-
2 May 2025
- Penalty
-
—
Obligation 15
If a code of practice cannot be finalised by 2 August 2025 or is deemed inadequate, the Commission may provide common rules for the implementation of obligations in Articles 53 and 55.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 56, Article 56
- Obligated entity
-
Commission
- Action required
-
provide
- Deadline
-
2 August 2025
- Penalty
-
—
§ Deadlines
EU AI Act compliance deadlines
-
2025-02-02
Article 4 AI literacy
in_force
-
2025-02-02
Article 5 prohibitions (unacceptable risk)
in_force
-
2025-08-02
GPAI model obligations (Articles 51 to 56)
in_force
-
2026-08-02
Article 50(2) machine-readable marking (watermarking) of AI-generated content
provisionally_amended
-
2026-08-02
Article 50 transparency obligations OTHER than the 50(2) marking grace (for example disclosure that a user is interacting with an AI system)
scheduled
-
2026-08-02
Annex III stand-alone high-risk obligations
provisionally_amended
-
2026-08-02
National AI regulatory sandboxes (establishment deadline)
provisionally_amended
-
2026-12-02
NEW Article 5 prohibition: AI generation of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and CSAM
provisionally_amended
-
2027-08-02
Annex I embedded (regulated-product) high-risk obligations
provisionally_amended
§ Frequently asked
Questions about Article 56
Who must comply with Article 56 of the AI Act?
+
AI Office, Commission, participants in codes of practice.
What does Article 56 of the AI Act require?
+
facilitate ensure report
What is the compliance deadline for AI Act Article 56?
+
2 August 2025; 2 May 2025; regularly