The ICSU World Data System (WDS) and the Data Seal of Approval (DSA) are pleased to announce the launch of a new certification organization: CoreTrustSeal.

CoreTrustSeal offers to any interested data repository a core level certification based on the DSA-WDS Core Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements catalogue and procedures. This universal catalogue of requirements reflects the core characteristics of trustworthy data repositories and is the culmination of a cooperative effort between DSA and WDS under the umbrella of the Research Data Alliance to merge their data repositories certifications.

CoreTrustSeal Data Repository certification replaces the DSA certification and WDS Regular Members certification. The CoreTrustSeal Data Repository online certification tool will become available before the end of 2017. New DSA applications will then be channeled through CoreTrustSeal. It is also expected that previously DSA-certified repositories will transition to CoreTrustSeal as they renew their certification. Likewise, WDS now requires its Regular Members applying for, or renewing membership to gain CoreTrustSeal Data Repository certification.

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CoreTrustSeal is a community based non-profit organization promoting sustainable and trustworthy data infrastructures. It is currently supported by a distributed Secretariat with in-kind contributions from WDS and DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services) in the Netherlands.

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