Small Business Standards is seeking SME contacts willing to share their experiences of how utilising standards has facilitated business growth and innovation. These case studies will serve as valuable resources, demonstrating the tangible benefits of standardisation and providing practical insights for other SMEs navigating similar challenges.

The final format for these success stories, whether written or video, will be determined later in the year following an assessment of potential participation.

The resulting content will:

🔹Highlight the strategic application of standards: Demonstrating how they facilitate market access, operational efficiency, and innovation.

🔹Address key challenges: Articulating the obstacles SMEs encounter and the strategic approaches employed to overcome them through standardisation.

🔹Focus on digital and green transitions: Showcasing how standards support SMEs in adapting to and leading these transformative shifts.

The European Commission will launch its Single Market Strategy, which is expected to be adopted as a package of legislative and non-legislative measures, in June.

SBS has already participated in the first stage of this process, submitting a reply to the initial call for evidence launched in January. The main points highlighted in the SBS reply included:

🔹The vital role of standards in support of the Single Market

🔹The necessity for SMEs to have simplified, targeted and streamlined legislation

To further reinforce its stance on this matter, SBS will also produce a full position paper on the Strategy, to be published before the summer. SBS is also engaging with the own-initiative report on “Streamlining EU internal market rules to strengthen the Single Market”, currently being developed by the IMCO Committee of the European Parliament.

An additional initiative to be included in the Single Market Strategy will be the EU strategy for startups and scaleups. Also in this case, SBS has been involved in the first stage of the process, submitting its reply to the relevant call for evidence, in March.

Small Business Standards in collaboration with SME Safety and Deutscher Textilreinigungs-Verband (DTV) conducted this study which explores the regulatory frameworks, requirements and concerns surrounding the Digital Product Passport (DPP) from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textile, textile care, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical device sectors.

This study also provides an in-depth analysis of survey responses from SMEs in these sectors, and relevant recommendations for policymakers.

Thus, experts and industry representatives highlighted specific data requirements within their sectors and underscored the challenges and obstacles SMEs may encounter in case of a mandatory implementation of the DPP or of a similar initiative beyond textiles.

The revised Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 18 December 2024 and entered into force on 7 January 2025. Its application will start on 8 January 2026, marking the beginning of a comprehensive transition period. This period will be implemented progressively, coinciding with the adoption of harmonised standards for each product family. Until these new standards are established, existing harmonised standards under Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 remain valid. This phased approach ensures that companies have adequate time to adapt to the new requirements as they become applicable.

The updated CPR introduces several measures to address existing challenges and align the sector with the EU's broader environmental and digital objectives. One of the additions is the implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which will serve as centralised digital records containing technical specifications and environmental data for construction products.

Moreover, the revised regulation expands the scope of CE marking to encompass not only technical performance but also environmental impact, ensuring that products meet both safety and sustainability standards. Manufacturers will be required to report on climate-related information such as CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, with additional indicators to be incorporated over time.

To support SMEs to adapt to these changes, in December, SBS published a comprehensive guide to explain and provide clarity on the new provisions. It provides a step-by-step guidance on what has to be done, and it is in the process of being revised with the latest information. The updated guide will be available shortly and will serve as a valuable resource for SMEs navigating the transition.​

SBS recently had the pleasure of welcoming a group of bright students from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, accompanied by Professor Nir Kshetri, to our Brussels office. The session provided a valuable opportunity to explore the intricacies of the European standardisation system and highlight SBS's dedicated advocacy for SMEs within this landscape.

Our colleagues, Andrea Raffaelli and Mihaela Andreea David, thoroughly enjoyed presenting the core work of SBS and fostering a deeper understanding among the students regarding the crucial role that standards play in shaping the modern business environment.

This engaging visit underscores SBS's ongoing commitment to educational outreach and the dissemination of knowledge about the importance of standardisation. We believe in empowering the next generation with a clear understanding of how standards impact businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.