The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENLEC) have launched a new online toolbox as part of their ongoing efforts to encourage the widest possible range of stakeholders to get involved in standardization activities and help shape the content of European Standards.
With their 'Societal Stakeholders’ Toolbox', the standardization committees aim to help organizations that defend consumer interests participate in the development of standards, ensuring that their concerns are taken into account during the drafting process.
The 'Societal Stakeholders’ Toolbox' can be accessed directly from the homepage of the CEN-CENELEC website. On the website, organizations representing consumers, workers and environmental interests will receive practical advice on where to find information about ongoing standardization activities and how they can contribute to the process of developing standards at national, European and international levels.
CEN and CENELEC developed the toolbox within the framework of their ongoing collaboration with three umbrella organizations that represent the interests of specific interest groups within the European Standardization System. These organizations are: the European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation AISBL1(ANEC - the European consumer voice in standardisation), the European Environmental Citizens Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS), and the European Trade Union Institute’s (ETUI) Health and Safety Department.
Many CEN and CENELEC members are also cooperating with societal stakeholder organizations at national level. Based on existing examples of good practice, CEN and CENELEC encourage all of their members, in 33 European countries, to support and facilitate the active involvement of societal stakeholders in standardization activities.
1Association internationale sans but lucratif (International Non-Profit Organisation).