Policy Issue

Standardisation

Basic information

State of play

Standards promote best industry practices in support of safety, quality control and sustainability. They are also key to free trade and the successful implementation of policy. When duly referenced in the Official Journal of the EU, standards can be used to declare conformity with harmonised EU product requirements.Pursuant to the 2012 Regulation on European Standardisation, the European Commission publishes every year an Annual Work Programme for European standardisation. The programme lays down the Commission’s intentions to use standardisation in support of new or existing legislation and policies. These intentions may lead to formal standardisation requests (mandates).The new EU Strategy on Standardisation, published by the European Commission on 2 February 2022, outlines a more deliberate aim from the Commission to shape technical standards to deliver on policy aims, shorten the time needed to develop European standards, and boost EU competitiveness.

Policy Updates

Publications

Legislation

This section offers an overview of European legislation on standardisation, including the 2012 Regulation on European Standardisation, the EU Strategy on Standardisation from 2022, and related guidelines. The database contains the most recent publications, but also allows you to go back in time. 

These frameworks provide a structured approach to developing standards that facilitate the free movement of goods and services within the EU. By defining the roles of European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI) and national bodies, the standardisation regulations ensure processes are transparent, inclusive, and market-oriented. The documents highlight the EU’s commitment to high-quality, safety, and interoperability standards. Emphasis is placed on involving manufacturers, SMEs, and industry stakeholders to foster innovation and support compliance with evolving technical and environmental demands.

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