IHS White Paper: Understanding and Utilising Industry Standards in Great Britain and Europe

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The European Union (EU) and the Single European Market, pose unique challenges to the development and regulation of common European industry standards, as the 25-member EU is representative of distinct markets. Working to create standards that meet the needs of European businesses are the European Standards Organization (ESOs) and British and European International Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs).

By leveraging industry standards as a means of knowledge transfer, British businesses avoid reinventing the wheel while enjoying cost savings. In addition to cost savings, other measurable standards-related benefits that businesses enjoy include:

• Increased product value in terms of consumer perception (i.e., whether or not a product is up to standard)
• Encouraged innovation and reduced time to market through foundational ‘templates’ based on previously proven technologies
• Expanded potential market through verifiable compliance with the Sigle European Market and/or global marketplace

European standardization is complex, as diverse national interests are representative of various SDOs, to include: Spain’s AENOR, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), British Standards Institution, as well as EU-recognized ESOs and others. This wide range of SDOs and ESOs results in businesses faced with the task of choosing between the wide range of industry standards in an effort to attain market compliance.

This paper discusses tools that simplify using standards to maximize the number of available markets, and achieve compliance across the Single European Market. Topics explored include:

• Benefits of standards, from reduced costs to enhanced products and processes
• Distinguishing between the nature and roles of various SDOs and ESOs
• Best practices for conformity with the EU’s New Approach directives
• Various tools and techniques offered by third-party standards suppliers to simplify the process of standards research, identification, procurement and management

Third-party standards suppliers possess the resources to provide and maintain up-to-date databases with powerful search and document management tools. Such standards management solutions can provide a 24-hour international access point to the variant of European, and international standards and regulations produced by various standards-related bodies pertaining to every active industry in Britain and Europe.

In addition to providing a table which provides an overview selection of key British, European, and international SDOs , for further clarity this paper also illustrates a partial collection of the common British Standards Institution standards acquired from a third-party standards supplier, which also exists for other specific SDOs, as well as for specific industries, such as electronics or construction.

Download this White Paper to better understand how to utilize British, European and international industry standards while doing business in Britain and across the Single European Market.

Related topics:

• UK Department of Trade and Industry (DIT)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
• European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)
• European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
• British Standards Institution (BSI)
• Association of French Normalization (AFNOR)
• GOST