CEN-CENELEC PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 12 October 2012

On World Standards Day 2012 - CEN and CENELEC highlight how standards are boosting efficiency and reducing waste

Brussels, 12 October 2012 - The European Standardization Committees CEN and CENELEC see the 43rd World Standards Day (on 14 October) as an opportunity to highlight the contribution that standards can make to the twin goals of reducing waste and improving efficiency, which are essential factors for achieving smart and sustainable economic growth.

World Standards Day is celebrated each year on 14 October as an initiative of the International Standards Bodies (IEC, ISO and ITU). The theme of World Standards Day 2012 is "Less waste, better results – Standards increase efficiency".

CEN and CENELEC develop European Standards which provide clear and practical guidance to businesses, public authorities and other organisations. Many of these standards directly contribute to improving efficiency and reducing waste. In particular, they promote a better use of energy and other valuable resources, which leads to less waste and lower costs. The correct implementation of relevant standards can also help to reduce negative impacts on the environment and minimise carbon dioxide emissions.

For example, the European Standard EN 62430 provides manufacturers of electrical and electronic products with clear instructions for ensuring that their products are designed in a way that takes environmental considerations into account. This standard helps companies to comply with the requirements of the European Union’s Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC). It also exists as an international standard (IEC 62430).

Furthermore, CEN and CENELEC have developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account during the development of European Standards across a wide range of sectors. These include waste management (addressed by the CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 183) and the performance of electrical appliances (addressed by the CENELEC Technical Committee CLC/TC 59X).

Meanwhile, CEN and CENELEC are working together with ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, to develop new standards for smart meters, which will enable all kinds of companies, organisations and consumers to use energy and other resources (electricity, gas, heat and water) more efficiently. This work is necessary for implementing the European Union’s Electricity Directive (2009/72/EC).

Notes

World Standards Day is celebrated each year on 14 October, on the initiative of the International Standards Bodies (IEC, ISO and ITU). It is a way of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of the thousands of experts worldwide who develop the voluntary technical agreements that are published as international standards.
For more info, please see: www.worldstandardscooperation.org/wsd.html

See also the World Standards Day Message on the ISO website.

The World Standards Cooperation was established in 2001 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in order to strengthen and advance the voluntary consensus-based international standards systems of IEC, ISO and ITU.
For more info, please see: www.worldstandardscooperation.org 

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) are officially recognised organisations responsible for developing and defining standards at European level. These standards set out specifications and procedures in relation to a wide range of products and services, thereby facilitating commerce and industry throughout the European Single Market.

The members of CEN and CENELEC are the National Standards Bodies and National Electrotechnical Committees of 33 European countries including all of the EU member states plus three EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and three EU candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

European Standards (ENs) are developed through a process of collaboration among experts nominated by business and industry, research institutes, consumer and environmental organisations and other societal stakeholders.  These standards are accepted and recognised throughout all of the countries covered by CEN and CENELEC members.

CEN and CENELEC are working to promote the international harmonisation of standards in the framework of technical cooperation agreements with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

The full version of this press release can be found on the CEN-CENELEC website:

http://www.cencenelec.eu/News/Press_Releases/Pages/PR-2012-16.aspx

Media contact
Ben Carlin
Communication Unit
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
T: +32 2 550 08 32
Email
Twitter: @CENCLCpress