NEWS
Standardization in Austria is seeing growing involvement: in 2025, around 5000 experts from 3000 organizations were working on standards within national, European, and international bodies. More than 400 of these 5000 were new participants. For a country the size of Austria, this broad and growing participation is a strong sign that standardization is firmly anchored across the economy.
A new European standard, EN 81-76:2025, introduces the possibility of using specially designed lifts to evacuate people who cannot use stairs during emergencies. Traditionally, evacuation has relied on assistance from others or rescue services, limiting independence for many people with disabilities.
The publication of EN 4709-001:2026, developed by CEN/TC 471 ‘Unmanned Aircraft Systems’, marks a significant step forward in structuring the European framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). At a time when drone applications are rapidly expanding across sectors—from logistics and infrastructure monitoring to security and environmental services—this standard provides a robust and harmonized foundation for product safety and regulatory compliance.
On 23 April, we celebrate World Book Day—a moment to appreciate the power of books to transport us to new and exciting worlds. Books allow us to experience different perspectives, broaden our horizons, and often offer a way to escape the real world and find respite in imagined lands. Did you know that numerous standards exist to help make your reading experience seamless, no matter what format you choose to immerse yourself in a story?
The CEN Workshop on was kicked off on 3rd October 2025. The Workshop’s registered participants have agreed on the first draft of the CWA.
CEN and CENELEC, together with their members in 34 European countries, welcome the 21 April judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C 155/24 (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit and Others v. Stichting Rookpreventie Jeugd).
EN 15978:2026 provides a harmonized method to assess the environmental performance of buildings using Life Cycle Assessment and other quantified environmental data. It applies to new and existing buildings as well as refurbishment projects and defines how results should be calculated, reported, and communicated.
CEN and CENELEC warmly welcome the European Commission’s publication of the Annual Union Work Programme 2026 for European Standardization (AUWP 2026), which sets out five key priorities and 43 actions in support of EU policies for competitiveness. This document identifies the strategic direction for European standardization and aligns with the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass.
On 13 April, CEN and CENELEC welcomed Mr El hadji Abdourahmane Ndione, the Director-General of Association Sénégalaise de Normalisation (ASN) and the Chair of ISO DEVCO, to explore areas of shared interest between both organizations.
A new version of EN ISO 14001:2026 ‘Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use’ is now available. EN ISO 14001 is the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS). It was drafted by ISO/TC 207/SC 1 ‘Environmental management systems’, in close cooperation with CEN.