Atex - management of the directive

Organisational scheme for the ATEX 94/9/EC Directive:

(see PDF version [15 KB] )

There are four main themes in the working structure of this directive - management and implementation, administrative co-operation, discussion between Notified Bodies and standardization committees.

1. The ATEX Standing Committee was set up according to the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC to deal with management issues relating to the provisions it lays down.
   The membership of this Committee consists of the Member States only.
   The Experts Working Group of the ATEX Standing Committee meets up to twice a year to discuss matters relating to the Directive to iron out any particular problems that cannot be resolved at a national level. This Committee is Chaired by the Commission and includes representatives from Member States, Candidates, Industry, Standardisation and Conformity Assessment Bodies.
   The consolidated minutes of the meetings of the Working Group of the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC Standing Committee from 1997 to 2008 [3 MB] are now available.
   Please note that this document is published for information purpose only.

2. In order to discuss matters relating to market surveillance and other issues of mutual interest, national authorities have set up their own informal committee (administrative co-operation or ADCO).
   This is a restricted meeting which allows matters to be dealt with in-confidence.

3. To ensure consistency of approach between Notified Bodies in Europe, there is an independent group called the ExNBG (European ATEX Notified Bodies Group) which meets once a year where ATEX Notified Bodies consider and agree to apply a harmonised technical approach to third-party intervention.
   Papers from this Group (ExNBG Clarification Sheets) go to the ATEX Standing Committee in order to ensure transparency.

4. Finally, the two Committees within CEN and CENELEC responsible for developing standards under the ATEX 94/9/EC mandate are CEN/TC 305 and CLC/TC 31 respectively.
   However, this work also involves other Committees, such as those dealing with machinery where relevant standards have been identified for full harmonisation under the ATEX Directive.

See also the Contact points and Market Surveillance Authorities in Member States, and information on the International development in the European policy.