NOTE: Regulation EU 1025/2012 uses the term ‘standardization request’ whereas since years such request from the European Commission was referred to as ‘mandate’. As both concepts still exist (e.g. already existing ‘mandates’ are still under execution), both terms are used in the text hereafter.
Standardization requests (commonly referred to as ‘mandates’) emanating from the European Commission (EC) ask for specific actions from the ESOs to support and complement European policy objectives.
Standardization requests are usually issued to support the implementation of European Union (EU) legislation and policies for products and services.
The EC is responsible for the preparation and drafting of standardization requests. This is done in line with the principles included in the Vademecum on European Standardization.
It is important to ensure that the relevant parties are included in the drafting process and consulted during the informal consultations.
While the EC sets the content and deadlines included in standardization requests, these are developed in close consultation with the European Standardization Organizations (ESOs) and other relevant stakeholders, such as Annex III organizations and member states. They can contribute all along the drafting phase. During the consultation phase close cooperation between CENELEC and IEC is also crucial, so as to ensure that the future work (both in terms of timeframe and in terms of content) is properly planned, thereby taking into account the provisions of the Frankfurt Agreement.
To ensure a prompt coordination and input by all relevant stakeholders at European and international level during the drafting of standardization requests, ‘Ad-hoc groups’ (SRAHG) are put in place. These will see the participation of relevant technical bodies, CENELEC Members and IEC whenever relevant.
SRAHGs advise the CENELEC Technical Board on any issue (including work to be carried out, resources, etc.) associated to the draft standardization requests and ultimately on their acceptance/rejection.
Proposed draft standardization requests are submitted to the ‘Committee on Standards’ established under Regulation 1025/2012 on European Standardization, for approval by the Members States. Once approved, they are officially transmitted to the ESOs for acceptance and execution.
Regulation 1025/2012 requires the ESOs to indicate, within one month following receipt, if they accept a given standardization request or not.
A proposal, documented with the advice of the relevant Ad-hoc Group, is submitted by correspondence to the CENELEC Technical Board (BT), in which an agreement among the CENELEC Members is sought regarding the mandate put forward by the EC and the subsequent commitment of the CENELEC System resources for the execution of all the elements associated with the standardization request.
NOTE: To secure the timely response to the EC, CCMC initiates the CLC/BT decision making process on acceptance based on the draft standardization request that is submitted to the Committee on Standards.
A standardization request is a legal act and is considered as a contract between the EC and CENELEC (possibly together with CEN and ETSI) and is thus binding for both parties. In particular and as a consequence, the deadlines set in the contract for the deliverables are contractually binding and are to be respected.
The outcome of the CLC/BT decision is communicated to the EC.
Standardization requests must identify the requested European deliverables, and thus also the subject matter, together with the deadlines for publication.
Where conditions for issuing a standardization requests are not yet fulfilled, the EC launches appropriate preliminary or ancillary actions (studies or equivalent) to identify the standardization needs and to be able to analyse whether the subject matter is market-relevant.
NOTE: Ancillary Actions could take the form of a letter from the EC inviting CENELEC to carry out some pre-normative activity. Ancillary Actions will be submitted to the attention of the CENELEC Technical Board via a decision by correspondence or to be taken in a meeting.
In exceptional cases a standardization request for the development of European standards or European standardization deliverables might, however, include similar preliminary and ancillary action as part of its execution.