european commission european standardisation in support of european policies and legislation norbert...

European Commission

EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION IN SUPPORT OF

EUROPEAN POLICIES AND LEGISLATION

Norbert ANSELMANN

([email protected])

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


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.



•A DIN study (2000) revealed that the added value generated by standardisation is at least as important as the added value generated by patents.


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.



• 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”.



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.


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.


The role of the EU legislator consists of legislatingon the mandatory protection requirements to ensure public interests.


* 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.


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.


HARMONISED STANDARDS

Harmonised European standards adopted bythe European standards bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI give technical expressionto the essential requirements.


Harmonised standards remain voluntary. However, it is easier for the manufacturer to establish compliance with the Directives byusing standards.


* 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.


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



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.



• 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



* Support of public procurement :

= European Defence Handbook= eAccessibility



* ICT standardisation work programme := eHealth= e-Learning, e-Business, e-Government, e-

Invoicing



* Standardisation in the service sector :

= customer call centres,= facility management= film archiving



* Normally the initiative for the development of voluntary European standards belongs to

the stakeholders themselves (industry, users, consumers, NGOs, …)



* 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.


* « 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 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


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 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


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.


CONCLUSIONS

* It has contributed to regulatory convergence and harmonisation of standards at global level.


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.


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.


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 commission european standardisation in support of european policies and legislation norbert...

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