Vademecum on European standardisation

The main aim of the Vademecum is to serve as a guide for Commission officials. It will enable them to use, as appropriate, European standardisation as a tool for the implementation of the European policies and legislation for which they are responsible.

The Vademecum also seeks to guide the Member States. It will help them to understand the Commission's European standardisation policy and related practice and to know the mechanisms of referring to European standards in European policies/legislation.

Finally, this guide could also be used by stakeholders in standardisation (such as standardisers, enterprises and non-governmental organisations) to gain a clear picture of the policies and processes of the Commission in this field.

The publication of the Vademecum makes the policy of the European Commission on European standardisation more transparent and accessible to the outside world.

Suggestions for improvement are always welcome on entr-standardisation@ec.europa.eu.

Table of contents

Introduction

Foreword [14 KB]

1. General framework

   1. Standardisation and the Directive 98/34/EC
      1. Historical background [58 KB]
      2. Basic principles (to be added later)
   2. General Guidelines for the Cooperation between CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and the European Commission and EFTA - Explanatory note (to be added later)

2. European Standardisation in support of European Policies

   1. Standardisation Setting and Governance [64 KB]
   2. Methods for Reference to Standards in European Legislation [232 KB]
   3. Models of articles on standardisation issues to include a draft Directive [19 KB]
   4. Role, Elaboration and Follow-up of Mandates
      1. Role and elaboration of Mandates [85 KB]
      2. Follow-up of Mandates [420 KB]
   5. Publication of References of Standards in the Official Journal
      1. Guide to the implementation of Directives based on New Approach and Global Approach (blue guide)
      2. Guidelines for publication [251 KB]
   6. Procedure for Formal Objections against Standards [48 KB]

3. Co-financing by EU/EFTA of European Standardisation

   1. Descriptive document on financing methods and referencing to the foreseen Framework Partnership Agreement [36 KB]

4. European Standardisation in the International Context

   1. Strategy for the international promotion of standards [27 KB]
   2. TBT code and standards [21 KB]
   3. European Policy Principles on International Standardisation [SEC(2001) 1296 of 26 July 2001]
   4. The external dimension of the Internal Market
      1. Overview [35 KB]
      2. Implementing Policy Principles for External Trade in the fields of Standards & Conformity Assessment: A Toolbox of instruments [108 KB]
      3. Agreements on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (to be added later)

5. Technical Assistance and Standardisation

   1. General description (to be added later)
   2. European Community TBT related technical assistance to developing countries - EC submission to the TBT committee [27 KB]
   3. Technical Assistance and capacity building in the field of Technical Barriers to Trade [36 KB]

6. Annexes

   1. Directive 98/34/EC (consolidated version)
   2. General Guidelines for the Cooperation between CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and the European Commission and EFTA
   3. Directives under the New Approach and Directives making extensive use of reference to standards
   4. Standardisation related websites