CENELEC, THE NEW APPROACH AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION

1. CENELEC, THE NEW APPROACH AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION Symposium United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

2. CONTENTS • The actors • European milestones • Legal framework • The New Approach • Basic Principles • Advantages • Future encouragement • The European System • CENELEC cooperation with IEC • Conclusions

3. The actors

4. THE ACTORS OF STANDARDIZATION SYSTEM Electrotechnical standardization (IEC) Dresden Agreement • The European Commission Telecommunications standardization (ITU) Standardization in all other sectors (ISO) (ISO)

5. GEOGRAPHICAL DIMENSION • 30 Members • 27 EU Members • 3 EFTA Countries • 8 Affiliates • 38 Cooperating Partners

6. European milestones

7. VALUES OF THE EUROPEAN STANDARDIZATION SYSTEM European Internal Market • 1973 – Low Voltage Directive: first harmonised standards • 1983 – Directive 83/189 (98/34) Recognition of standardization as a useful tool for legislators (ESOs and NSBs) Information procedure • 1985 – The New Approach • 1989 – Global Approach and CE marking

8. Legal framework

9. LEGAL FRAMEWORK Legal Recognition of the ESOs COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF MAY 1985 LAYING DOWN THE NEW APPROACH CONCEPT ON TECHNICAL HARMONIZATION AND STANDARDIZATION

10. LEGAL FRAMEWORK Driving forces • Jurisprudence “Casis de Dijon”: any product legally manufactured and placed on the market in one Member State shall in principle be accepted also in the other Member States, unless the country of destination can claim the existence of imperative requirements to be complied with for reasons of public health, safety, consumer protection, … • Legislative harmonization of detailed technical legal requirements on product safety proved not to be successfully in major product areas.

11. The New Approach

12. THE NEW APPROACH Basic principles • Broad product scope of NA directives • Essential requirements: no technical detail • Supported by European standards • Conformity assessment using standard modules • CE marking based on a system of trust • Manufacturer is legally responsible

13. THE NEW APPROACH Advantages (1) • “Soft” regulation and harmonization of the market • Prevention of barriers to trade resulting from diverging national technical standards • Clearly structured legislation, “easy to use” • Up-to-date technical requirements • Avoidance of redundancies: no technical specifications in legislation

14. THE NEW APPROACH Advantages (2) • Fast and highly efficient legislative process • Timely adoption of technical requirements according to development and innovation • Enforcement supported by adequate market surveillance • No mandatory application of standards; flexibility for manufacturers to use different technical solutions thus enhancing innovative development

15. THE NEW APPROACH How the system works (1) NEW APPROACH DIRECTIVES define Essential Requirements for products COMMISSION “MANDATES” express the wish for standardization in the framework of European Policies HARMONIZEDStandards are those that provide technical support to the requirements set by Directives. They grant automatic presumption of conformity to the products that have been manufactured following these standards. List of titles published in Official Journal.

16. THE NEW APPROACH How the system works (2) • STANDARDS ARE VOLUNTARY • Harmonized European standards give presumption of conformity with essential requirements • … but remain voluntary! • European standardization Bodies elaborate European Standards on the basis of requests “mandates” from the Commission; international standards should be transposed uniformingly at European level, whenever they are in line with relevant directives.

17. The European system

18. THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM Principles of Standardization • Voluntary process • Based on Consensus • Share of knowledge will develop best possible technical solution • Impartial result • Increases market access fostering competition

19. THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM CENELEC national Members • Represent all national stakeholders: industry, authorities, social partners, consumers • Ensure consensus building at national level • Appoint national experts to participate in standardization work • Commit to implement European standards identically at national level • Withdraw conflicting national standards

20. THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM CENELEC portfolio of Standards Total number of CENELEC standards at 15 Sept. 2007 = 5.245

21. STANDARDS (EN/HD) ADOPTION TIME (YEAR 2006) 72,5 % of the CENELEC deliverables are produced in less than 2 years 93 % of the CENELEC deliverables are produced in less than 3 years Adoption time from stage code of approved NWI until date of ratification

22. CENELEC cooperation with IEC

23. CENELEC cooperation with IEC Total number of CENELEC standards at 15 Sept. 2007 = 5.245 15 Sept. 2007

24. Conclusions

25. CONCLUSIONS The New Approach : • Effective co-regulation is build on principle of confidence • Directives adopted by EU member states • Harmonized European standards through consensus between all parties concerned • Compliance with standards is voluntary • Manufacturer remains responsible • .

26. CONCLUSIONS The Commission and CENELEC will continue promoting strong link with international standardisation and to support transposition in the EU

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