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  • Access to CEN / CENELEC standards

All European Standards (ENs) and drafts (prENs), as well as any other approved document (Technical Specifications, Technical Reports and CEN Workshop Agreements) can be purchased from CEN and CENELEC National Members and affiliates.

The CEN website also offers also a “Search standards” function, which allows to search in the entire collection of published standards and standards under development. The search can be done by English title, standard reference, document type, ICS, progress status and committee. The results of the search may be displayed by Work Item number, standard reference or committee. The ‘More’ button in the last column of the search results gives the national implementations of the standards, with links to the websites of the CEN Members.

Similarly, CENELEC standards can be purchased exclusively via the National Standardization Organizations of CENELEC and usually in their national languages. Here you can find the full list of CENELEC Members.

All standards are protected by copyrights and it is forbidden to copy them for further distribution or commercial use. CEN and CENELEC encourage the National Standard Bodies of Third Countries to adopt EN standards and there is no limitation on sales of adopted standards within the country. Translations into third country languages of adopted EN standards may be published and sold, however, a commission might apply. Publication of EN Standards without adoption is possible, however will subject to a commission to CEN / CENELEC. If publication is to be done in English, it shall require an agreement with the respective national standard body (BSI in UK or NSAI in Ireland).

  • Access to ETSI standards

ETSI standards can be downloaded in English free of charge directly from the ETSI website.

For re-publication of ETSI standards translated or in original language a copyright agreement with ETSI is required.

In 2009 CEN, CENELEC and ETSI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC). This agreement provides a framework for regular and coordinated exchange of information at the corporate and technical level. The main action concerning the implementation of this agreement is CESIP (China-EU/EFTA Standardization Information Platform).

Launched in October 2009, the Europe-China Standardization Information Platform is a practical information tool that aims at strengthening the mutual trade and investment flow between Europe and China by making standards and related technical regulations more accessible. The platform is a website where Chinese and European companies can find information in English and Chinese about current and upcoming standards applicable to their products when intended for export to China or Europe.

At present CESIP covers the following sectors or product groups

  • Electrical appliances
  • Medical devices
  • Machinery
  • Environmental protection
  • Aerosol containers
  • Packaging
  • Textiles
  • Toys
  • Child care articles
  • Leather
  • Green products, ecodesigns, and energy labelling
  • Railway-related products

 

 

EU-China cooperation

With the ever increasing bilateral trade between EU and China and the acknowledgment of the importance of standards, EU-China cooperation in standardization has been developing over the recent years and has become more pragmatic and diverse.

  • Strategic Partnership

The EU-China Strategic Partnership, which was developed on the basis of the 1985 EU-China trade and cooperation agreement, has grown to include foreign affairs, security matters and international challenges such as climate change and global economic governance.

The EU-China Strategic 2020 Agenda for Cooperation signed at the EU-China Summit in 2013 is the guiding document of the relationship.

The EU and China are global players. As strategic partners, they increasingly cooperate on key international and regional issues. The EU is also China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the second-largest two-way trading partner for the EU. The trade and investment relationship is an essential source of wealth, jobs, development and innovation for both sides.

  • Summits and dialogues

The 17th EU-China summit was held on 29 June 2015. These bilateral summits are normally held annually.

The summit incorporates three high-level ‘pillars’ that provide the leaders with overall direction:

  1. High-Level Strategic Dialogue;
  2. High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue;
  3. High-Level People-to-People Dialogue.

Over 60 regular, high-level, and senior official dialogues take place on important foreign policy areas and technical topics such as industrial policy, education, customs, nuclear energy and consumer protection. These discussions and topics underpin those three pillars.

  • CEN-CENELEC Cooperation with China

Cooperating Partner: Standardization Administration of China and under the lead of SAC further Sectorial Standards Setters (Ministries) and Social Organization/Association Standards Setters

  • CEN-CENELEC Cooperation Agreement with SAC signed in 2016
  • CEN-CENELEC-SAC Strategy Dialogue established in October 2019
  • Coordination on strategy at the international level
  • Supporting China’s deeper technical alignment at an international level
  • CEN-CENELEC Task Force China

Convenor: Mr. Christoph Winterhalter (CEN VP Policy)

Secretariat: CEN-CENELEC Management Centre in Brussels

Composition: 12 CEN-CLC members, industry representatives, European Commission, EFTA