1. CENELEC, THE NEW APPROACH AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION
Symposium
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
23 October 2007
Geneva

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
Telecommunications standardization
The European Commission
(ITU)
An that structure guarantees our first success.
And I have written in purpose “IN AT LEAST” because:
- affiliate countries
- as 75% of the standards are identical or based on IEC standards,
in most of the cases we will be taking of a higher number…
Standardization in all other sectors (ISO)
(ISO)

5. GEOGRAPHICAL DIMENSION
30 Members
27 EU Members
3 EFTA Countries
8 Affiliates
38 Cooperating Partners
CENELEC has got 30 Members:
They are the National Electrotechnical Committees from the 27 Member countries of the European Union and the other 3 coming from EFTA: this is Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Within the framework of Wider Europe (the European Commission’s European Neighbourhood Policy), CENELEC has engaged in promoting European electrotechnical standardization in neighbouring countries. We already count 8 Affiliates (in purple on the map):
(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine)
38 Cooperating Partners have joined us over the years.

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
1973 would have been a key date only with the foundation of CENELEC, but it happened another event that complete that year. The European Commission approved the Low Voltage Directive, which can be called the first New Approach Directive. Is the first time the European legislators define essential requirements and relay on voluntary standards, called in the Directive Harmonized Standards, the technical requirement to guarantee the safety of products. And is the first time that Notified Bodies affix or certificates of compliance with this Harmonized Standards that should be recognized in all the Member States of the EEC. use of voluntary standards gives presumption of conformity.
1980 standardization become a useful tool for legislators increasing the use of standards in support of its policies and legislation.
1985 The establishment of the New Approach. Standardisation has contributed significantly to the support of the completion of the Internal Market in the context of the New Approach legislation, which refers to European standards developed by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI.
Standards giving answers to the essential requirements: heath, safety and environment.
Furthermore, European standardisation supports European policies in the areas of competitiveness, ICT, public procurement, interoperability, environment, transport, energy, consumer protection, etc.
Standardization is defined by the European Commission as the most successful story when talking about co-regulation.
(entrust the attainment of the objectives defined by the legislative authority to parties which are recognised in the field)

8. Legal framework

9. COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF MAY 1985
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
HARMONIZED Standards 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. STANDARDS ARE VOLUNTARY
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. Principles of Standardization
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. CENELEC national Members
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. CENELEC portfolio of Standards
THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM
CENELEC portfolio of Standards
Total number of CENELEC standards at 15 Sept = 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
Indeed, 72,5% of ….
So considering the a European Standards is the highest consensus building deliverable and is a very stable document, the process is not so slow.
However if there is a need for a specification that is not necessarily a European Standard, CENELEC has got the CWAs (no national representation but direct participation of Industry). This option enables us to react faster to industry needs especially in the case of fast-changing technologies and short life cycle products.
This is another way for the system to deal with innovation.
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 = 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

27. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!
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