About CENELEC

The European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization is one of three European Standardization Organizations (together with CEN and ETSI) that have been officially recognized by the European Union and by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as being responsible for developing and defining voluntary standards at European level.

CENELEC in Figures

CENELEC ended up the year 2022 with a total figure of 7733 active Standards.
During the year 2022, 383 standards were published..

CENELEC Active Standards 2020 2021 2022
Published standards */year 454 506 383
Total active Standards * 7493 7713 7733
Net increase at year end 188 220 20

* These figures include amendments  

 

Total number of active CENELEC Deliverables at the year end 2022: 

Active CENELEC portfolio

New deliverables

in 2022

Total deliverables

at the end of 2022

Standards (EN & HD)

383

7733

ENV (pre-standards)*

-

-

Reports*

-

-

Technical reports

28

202

Technical Specifications

7

91

Guides

4

50

CWA

3

18

Total Deliverables

425

8094

* ENVs/Reports/ESs/CECC Specifications are not published any more

 

Note: The total number of overall standards figures at the end of 2022 does not result from summing up the overall standards figures of 2021 (8055) to the total output of standards of 2022 (425). This is due to the fact that CENELEC only counts as standards those that are currently active and stops counting those that have been withdrawn after the date of withdrawal or DOW.

 

CENELEC Standards ratified, awaiting publication: 64

                                              
The overall figures only take into account active Standards (Standards that are currently valid) and stops counting those that have been withdrawn.

Links with the IEC
In a world like today's where markets become global and products are being sold worldwide, CENELEC makes sure that the majority of its Standards are identical to the Standards developed by the IEC, the International Electrotechnical Commission. This is achieved thanks to the intense cooperation between both organizations, laid down in the Frankfurt Agreement, and through the participation of CENELEC members directly in IEC work..

The added value for the manufacturer in applying CENELEC Standards emanating from the IEC is that, besides granting access to all 34 CENELEC countries, these same Standards are also recognized worldwide thanks to the work of the IEC. Sometimes CENELEC adopts IEC Standards that are slightly modified with some specifications added for the European marketplace. Normally, these common modifications include tougher guarantees of health and safety to be applied for the European market.

In overall terms, 81% of CENELEC deliverables are identical to or based upon IEC’s. Next charts clearly show these trends.


Level of equivalence between IEC and CENELEC deliverables published in 2022

Identical to the IEC

294

70%

Based on the IEC

0

0%

Purely European

127

30%

Total

421

100%

Figures take into account all documents (excluding Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio.

 

Level of equivalence between IEC and CENELEC for the overall deliverables at the end of 2022

Identical to the IEC

4892

75%

Based on the IEC 

416

6%

Purely European  

1266

19%

Total

6574

100%

Figures take into account all documents (excluding Amendments, Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio (for this table 'portfolio' is based on deliverables as they can be implemented, rather than as individual work items. This approach better reflects the degree of equivalence of the final deliverable).

 

Links with the European Commission and EFTA
To provide a means for demonstrating conformity with European Directives, CENELEC and the European Commission have reached agreements for CENELEC to develop appropriate Standards - Harmonized Standards -over a wide range of electrotechnical areas.

 

Total CENELEC deliverables offered for citation at the end of 2022

Total CENELEC deliverables

        8044

   100 %

Of which offered

       1364*

     17%

* These figures include amendments.
Figures take into account all documents (excluding Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio.

Harmonized Standards are those that fulfill the requirements set by New Approach Directives. These Standards are unique in the sense that they provide presumption of conformity with the European legal framework. In other words, and this is a specific feature of the European Standardization System, Harmonized Standards help manufacturers comply with the applicable law.

In addition to the New Approach, CENELEC also prepares standards in support of the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), Waste from electrical and electronic equipment directive (WEEE).

To assist manufacturers and other interested parties, the Official Journal of the European Communities provides a list of Harmonised Standards giving presumption of conformity for each Directive.

More information about the New Approach Directives and the harmonization process can be found on the European Commission DG Growth website as well as a dedicated New Approach website.

 

Technical bodies and Manpower

CENELEC standardization work is carried out in different Technical Bodies in which a wide range of interests is represented.

Technical Bodies

2021

2022

Technical Committees / Sub-Committees

76

69

TCs / SCs Working Groups (WGs)

321

318

BT Task Forces and WGs

15

16

Total

412

403

 

Latest update on Technical Bodies and Standards

Find the latest information on:

The outcomes of CEN and CENELEC activities are presented in the CEN and CENELEC in figures report. 

 

This quarterly report covers:

  1. standards publications
  2. work programme
  3. development timeframe
  4. international relations
  5. relations to EU legislation.

 

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