European Commission
EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION IN SUPPORT OF
EUROPEAN POLICIES AND LEGISLATION
Norbert ANSELMANN
Head of Unit I3 “Standardisation”
Enterprise and Industry Directorate GeneralEuropean Commission
CONTENT
* Political context
* Enhance and broaden the use of European standardisation in European policies and legislation :
= support of Better Regulation Policy= support of industrial and enterprise policy
* European standardisation and the challenge of globalisation
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
POLITICAL CONTEXT
* Communication from the European Commission on the role of European standardisation in the frameworkof European policies and legislation (COM(2004) 674 final)
* Endorsement through conclusions from the Councilof Ministers relating to European standardisationof 21 December 2004
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
POLITICAL CONTEXT
* Action plan for European standardisation www.ec.europa.eu/enterprise/standards_policy/index_en.htm
The regularly updated action plan reflects in operational termsthe implementation of the EU’s standardisation policy
European CommissionDirectorate General Enteprises and Industry
ADVANTAGES OF STANDARDISATION
•Following a DTI study (2005), 13% of UK post-war productivity growth can be attributed to standards-based dissemination of technology, management practice and other knowledge, as part of the innovation system.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
ADVANTAGES OF STANDARDISATION
•A DIN study (2000) revealed that the added value generated by standardisation is at least as important as the added value generated by patents.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
• As identified in the Lisbon agenda, standardisation is an important tool for:
better regulation;
strengthening the competitiveness of European industry and contributing to the development of industrial projects.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
• Vice-President Verheugen said “I expect standardisation to continue to be a strength. Standardisation is contributing to the reduction of barriers to trade and to increased competitiveness. European standards makers are a major contributor to better regulation with standards being produced in support of co- and self-regulation”.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
ADVANTAGES OF STANDARDISATION
Where standardisation has been identified as an essential tool of an effective and forward-looking business strategy, the implementation of such strategy can be the source of business success.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
SUPPORT OF BETTER REGULATION POLICY
It is the role of the independent European standards bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to adopt voluntary standards which provide for more detailed solutions giving technical expression to the legal requirements.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
The role of the EU legislator consists of legislatingon the mandatory protection requirements to ensure public interests.
SUPPORT OF BETTER REGULATION POLICY
* The New Approach methodology hasbeen applied since 1985 to more than 20 regulated sectors, including machinery,
gas appliances, toys, electrical equipment, medical devices, pressure equipment, telecommunications equipment, measuring instruments and construction products.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
* Products placed on the European market must comply with the‘essential requirements’ which address ina generic way the aspects of protection ofhealth and safety of patients, users andthird persons.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
HARMONISED STANDARDS
Harmonised European standards adopted bythe European standards bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI give technical expressionto the essential requirements.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
Harmonised standards remain voluntary. However, it is easier for the manufacturer to establish compliance with the Directives byusing standards.
SUPPORT OF BETTER REGULATION POLICY
* More than 4000 voluntary European standardshave been adopted in support of this legislation.
* The EU is committed to make even broader use of this regulatory concept in areas suchas environment protection, transport, and the useof energy.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATIONTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
BETTER REGULATION POLICY
* Extension towards other areas of EU legislation such as := air traffic management= interoperability of rail systems= eco-design of energy using products (EuP Directive)= energy performance of buildings
* Application of the concept of general reference to voluntary standards in existing EU legislation
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
STRENGTHENING OF COMPETITIVENESS
European standardisation can contribute to enhance competitiveness of European industry, to facilitate the innovation of products and processes and to take benefit from the access to the European Internal Market.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
• Areas where standardisation can support the introduction of new technologies and processes:
= hydrogen technologies,= space, GALILEO,= environmental technologies (eg. Eco-design), rationale
use of energy, sustainable construction= nano-technologies
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
* Support of public procurement :
= European Defence Handbook= eAccessibility
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
* ICT standardisation work programme := eHealth= e-Learning, e-Business, e-Government, e-
Invoicing
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
* Standardisation in the service sector :
= customer call centres,= facility management= film archiving
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
* Normally the initiative for the development of voluntary European standards belongs to
the stakeholders themselves (industry, users, consumers, NGOs, …)
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU POLICIES
* In the context of needs to support European policies, the European Commission invites European standards bodies – through « mandates » - to set up and implement comprehensive standardisation programmes.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
* « Mandates » are endorsed by the Member States through the 98/34 Committee
EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION ANDTHE CHALLENGE OF GLOBALISATION
* EU is committed to the development and use of international standards from ISO, IEC, ITU
* Level of transposition of international standards := 80% of CENELEC standards= 40 % of CEN standards
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION ANDTHE CHALLENGE OF GLOBALISATION
* In the interest of market access and facilitation oftrade, we invite our trade partners to make use of international and European standards whereverpossible
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
We welcome the further implementation of the international regulatory model adopted by UN/ECE which promotes the use of voluntary standards
EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION AND THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBALISATION
WWW.UNECE.ORG/TRADE/TIPS/STDPOL
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION AND THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBALISATION
The European Commission contributes to the promotion of the visibility of European standardisation :
= appointment of a standardisation expert at the EU delegation in China
= standardisation is part of EU neighbourhood policy and of cooperation activities with third countries
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONCLUSIONS
* European Internal Market legislation making use of voluntary standards has provided for about 15 years a successful framework for the free circulation of goods and a high level of protection of health and safety.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONCLUSIONS
* It has contributed to regulatory convergence and harmonisation of standards at global level.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONCLUSIONS
* The use of voluntary standards in support of this legislation has proven to be a
successful tool. Thanks to the availability of European and international standards, both manufacturers and regulators could rely on the most adequate technical solutions taking account of the state of the art and the pace of technogical evolution.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
CONCLUSIONS
* The voluntary nature of harmonisedstandards provides for flexible solutions which allow predictibility and legal security whilst
supporting technological progress andinnovation.
* These advantages refer to manufacturers, conformity assessment bodies and public authorities.
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
IMPORTANT INTERNET SITES TO IMPORTANT INTERNET SITES TO REMEMBERREMEMBER
www.cenelec.org
www.cenorm.be
www.etsi.org
DG Enterprise …..http://ec.europa.eu/comm/enterprise/regulation/index.htm
Harmonised standards
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/index.html
New Approach ......... http://www.newapproach.org
European CommissionDirectorate General Enterprises and Industry
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