european standardisation: a short insight

European Standardisation: A short insight

By Guido De Jongh

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre - Brussels

2005 CEN – all rights reserved

2010 CEN – all rights reserved 21/04/23

2

What is CEN ? (1)

The European Committee for Standardization, whose members are the National Standardization Bodies of the EU and EFTA countries plus Croatia

CEN is an international non-profit organisation, incorporated under Belgian law

2 Counsellors (European Commission, EFTA)

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC), Brussels

Recognized by the European Authorities as one of the three competent standardization bodies for the EU (see Directive 98/34/EC)


Over 60 000 experts of all fields are active in CEN work

Experts of authorities, industry, consumer organisations, etc. (i.e. the stakeholders) participate in the standardisation process, which is open and transparent

3 2010 CEN – all rights reserved 21/04/23

What is CEN ? (2)

2005 CEN – all rights reserved 4

The geography

Member

Affiliate

27 Members of EU

3 Members of EFTA

Croatia

19 Affiliates



How do we harmonize and contribute to the single market ?

European Standards (EN) Over 14 000 ENs exist today, with about 1 000 new documents being

published every year

European Standards are, from a legal point of view, voluntary in their use, but “unavoidable” in practise

CEN Workshop Agreements (CWA) Consensus-based documents, directly made by the stakeholders

Often used in innovative areas, e.g. biofuels or information technology



Standards, regulations and private specifications

Regulations

Standards

Professional good practice, corporate specs, etc.

Mandatory

Voluntary Public

Private

Law

CEN Workshop Agreement



What is a standard ?

A standard is a document established by all interested parties (e.g. also yourself)

reflecting consensus

In addition, a European Standard is automatically transposed in national standards and

conflicting national standards are to be withdrawn

European Standards are, from a legal point of view, voluntary in their use, but at the same time “unavoidable” in practice

A tool to underpin the details of directives e.g. Medical device directive


7


Drafting European Standards ?


NationalStandards

Body

Timeframe: 36 Months

Technical

Committee

Technical

Committee

Project Proposal

Working

Group USER

DraftStandard

EuropeanStandard

Circulation for comments

Weighted

vote

National implementation

6 Months


Not only European Standards: The CEN Workshop Agreement

The CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) represents the consensus of identified stakeholders

Anybody interested can join (including anyone outside Europe) – direct participation

A public process

Rules are very simple (non-bureaucratic)

Workshops are fast (5 months is the record, 12-15 months average!)

The CEN Workshop Agreement shall not conflict with ENs



Different steps to publish a CEN Workshop Agreement

Drafting and adoption of

CWA

Describing– Scope– Objectives– Financing– Schedule

ConfirmingBusiness Plan :– Rules of the Workshop– Financing– Chairmanship– Secretariat

Announced by

CEN NationalMembers

TIMEFRAME: 6 – 18 MONTHS

Consensusprocess

– Workshop participants

– Public consultation, as appropriate


Publication of CWA

Kick-off Meeting

Business Plan


Our international partner: ISO

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Main differences CEN – ISO

ISO works at worldwide level

Consensus building process on ISO standards must take account

of all regional interests

No automatic transposition of ISO standard at national level

Collaboration agreement between CEN and ISO (Vienna

Agreement) avoids duplication of work



Some examples

Standards on products EN 71 series on “Safety of toys” EN 14214:2008 “Biodiesel” for cars EN 81 series on “Lifts”

Standards on services EN 14804: 2005 “Language study tour providers – Requirements” EN 14467: 2004 “Recreational diving services – Requirements for

recreational scuba diving service providers” prEN 15733 “Services of Real Estate Agents – Requirements for the

provision of the services of real estate agents”

13 2010 CEN – all rights reserved 21/04/23

Questions ?

Thank you

www.cen.eu

E-mail: [email protected]

european standardisation: a short insight

Documents

cen workshop agreementdrafting

directive 9834ec2005

cen workexperts of authorities

rights reservedover

rights reservedwhat

meetingbusiness plan2005

main differences cen

european standards enover