Harmonized standard
Harmonized standards are European standards for products. They are drawn up by the organizations CEN , CENELEC and ETSI on behalf of the European Commission and EFTA , i.e. there is a standardization order (mandate) for these European standardization organizations. They are a main element of the new concept introduced in 1985 within the European internal market and serve the free movement of goods and services.
One of the foundations for the realization of the European internal market was the White Paper published by the European Commission in June 1985. Among other things, it says: "The harmonization of technical standards through the development of European standards will be promoted as far as possible". Since the beginning of the New Concept, 26 product-related European directives have come into force. The harmonized standards are used for their technical implementation.
The harmonization of standards is announced in the Official Journal of the European Union . The date from which the application of the standard and thus conformity with the requirements is possible is also set.
The European standardization organizations are responsible for the content of the harmonized standards. The standards are not checked by European or national authorities, but the involvement of the authorities concerned in the creation is desirable.
Harmonized standards do not necessarily have to be newly developed; existing standards can also be submitted for harmonization. These can also be revised and published with a new issue date. Furthermore, already existing national standards ( DIN , ÖNORM , SN , ...) or international standards ( ISO , ...) can be adopted as European standards and then proposed to the Commission for harmonization.
All European harmonized standards must be implemented as national standards ( DIN EN …, ÖNORM EN…, SN EN… etc.); National standards that conflict with this must be withdrawn within a certain period of time. The reference of the implemented national standard must also be published by the relevant state. In Germany, this is done in the Federal Gazette .
Web links
- European single market at DIN
- European harmonization of standards
- List of harmonized standards on the website of the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (English)
- Answer from Mr. Verheugen, on behalf of the Commission, on the question about the application of harmonized standards
- List of European harmonized standards (European Commission)