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Moving towards the future of the European Standardisation System: Evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 and launch of its revision process | | | |
On 23 June, the European Commission published the report on the evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation, along with the full accompanying study, and at the same time launched an impact assessment that will most likely lead to the revision of the Regulation, expected in mid-2026.
The publishing on the report on the evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 concludes an 18-months process to which SBS constantly contributed, putting forward the findings and the needs of European SMEs via replies to consultations and targeted questionnaires, interviews and leading the development of the High-Level Forum Workstream 3 report and recommendations on inclusiveness in standardisation at national level.
The evaluation takes a general view and looks back at the effectiveness and efficiency of the Regulation since its entering into force, focusing particularly on these key objectives: - Faster development of standards and better market responsiveness;
- Standards to support the competitiveness of European businesses;
- Capacity of the European standardisation system to support EU policy objectives;
- Greater inclusiveness in standardisation and stronger role of SMEs and civil society;
- Standards to support the global role of the EU and of European businesses
While the evaluation finds concrete improvements due to the Regulation, particularly in terms of improved inclusiveness and economic efficiency of the system, there are areas that still remain to be addressed. The speed of development of standards, while having a modest improvement in certain areas, is still found insufficient. This in turn also impacts the ability of the European system to be a global standards setter. The inadequate speed and market responsiveness of the system is judged to be particularly concerning in ICT and digital.
SBS recognises the much improved inclusiveness of European standardisation compared to the pre-Regulation 1025 era, while highlighting that further progress in this area is still needed, particularly in the participation of SMEs in standardisation at national level and in international fora. SBS also agrees with the need to improve the speed and market responsiveness of the system, to allow European SMEs to fully take advantage of the benefits of the use of standards.
However, SBS stresses that in standardisation increased speed often has a cost, in terms of diminished participation and of rushed consensus. Both these risks would greatly damage the role and effective participation of SMEs in standardisation. Therefore, it is critical that all measures to be taken to increase the speed of the standards development have to be fully inclusive and ensure the access and effective participation of SMEs and of their experts.
The publication of the report on the evaluation of Regulation 1025 was accompanied by the launch of a call for evidence to start the process that will most likely lead to its revision. The call for evidence will run until 21 May. The following steps in the process will be a public consultation, expected in Q3 2025 as well as workshops and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The Commission legislative proposal for the revision of Regulation 1025 is currently scheduled for mid-2026. | | | | | |
Call for Experts 2026
Small Business Standards (SBS) is launching an open call for experts to represent SME interests in the Technical Committees (TCs), Sub-Committees (SCs), and Working Groups (WGs) of CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, ISO, and IEC in 2026. We're looking for candidates with technical expertise in any standardisation topic relevant to SMEs. Applications for topics included in the 2025 Annual Union work programme for European standardisation are particularly encouraged.
Application deadline: 9 September 2025 midnight (CET)
Join our webinar on 29 August 2025 to get an introduction to SBS and a detailed overview of this call for experts. Register here.
APPLY
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MEETING STANDARDS 2025
Following the success of previous years, the annual Meeting Standards campaign returns for its third outing from 17 to 21 November 2025. This week-long initiative showcases a variety of events organised by standards bodies and SME organisations right across Europe.
Its main goals are to:
🔹Raise Awareness: Educate SMEs on the value of standardisation and its positive impact on their businesses. 🔹Foster Participation: Encourage active SME involvement in shaping industry standards. 🔹Disseminate Knowledge: Keep SMEs updated on the latest standardisation developments relevant to their sectors. 🔹Build Community: Connect SMEs and standardisation organisations across Europe.
We're calling on standards bodies and SME organisations throughout Europe to get involved by organising and putting forward their own activities for this important week. This joint effort will create a comprehensive and accessible platform for SMEs to engage with the world of standards.
Submit your activity here
SBS ANNUAL EVENT
Join us for the SBS annual event on 20 November 2025, during Meeting Standards week:
European AI Act: Navigating Opportunities & Challenges for SMEs
Further information and registration available in the coming weeks. | | | |
Call for SME Success Stories: Standards for Growth
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. Last year, our Meeting Standards Week campaign reached over 25,000 stakeholders. This year, we're aiming to amplify our impact by showcasing these compelling SME success stories during Meeting Standards Week (17-21 November) and via SBS channels, demonstrating the tangible benefits of standardisation. PARTICIPATE
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SBS comment on Single Market Strategy
In May the European Commission published the Single Market Strategy. The Strategy, launched alongside the Omnibus IV package, outlines key initiatives to simplify the Single Market for European companies and SMEs and measures to favour the digitalisation of the Single Market.
SBS welcomes the publication of the Strategy and supports its commitment to:
- Building a simpler, more SME-friendly Single Market by reducing regulatory fragmentation and unnecessary administrative burdens
- Strengthening the role of standards as a tool to support innovation, compliance and market access
- Reforming the New Legislative Framework (NLF) and advancing the digitalisation of the Single Market, with SME needs in focus.
SBS particularly welcomes the recognition of standardisation as essential to the functioning of the Single Market and looks forward to contributing to the revision of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation, launched in late June. However, SBS also cautions that improving timeliness must not come at the expense of inclusive and balanced stakeholder participation. SBS highlights the need to: - Avoid excessive pressure on speed that could put SMEs at a disadvantage in standardisation processes.
- Preserve the primacy of harmonised standards over fallback instruments such as common specifications and clarify the process for stakeholder involvement in their development.
- Ensure a fully inclusive process in any upcoming reforms of the European Standardisation System, maintaining the progress made under Annex III of the current Standardisation Regulation.
Provide SMEs with adequate support to adapt to digitalisation, including the rollout of the Digital Product Passport.
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The future of Standards for the Single Market
On 24 June, SBS organised the “Future of Standards for the Single Market” event. The event took place in the immediate aftermath of the publication by the European Commission of the report on the evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation.
Other topics discussed in detailed and debated among the speakers and the audience were the recently published Single Market Strategy and the upcoming revision of the New Legislative Framework (NLF), on which an own-initiative report is currently under development in the IMCO Committee of the European Parliament.
The event featured interventions from: - Federico Musso, Team Leader, DG GROW unit H.3 on standardisation
- Peter Agius, MEP (EPP, MT), Shadow rapporteur for the IMCO own-initiative report on the reform of the NLF
- Martin Chatel, LL.M., Chief Policy Officer, ETSI
- Kate Lancaster, European & International Policy Project Manager, CEN and CENELEC
The speakers shared their insights and had an open and frank discussion on the future of the European standardisation system in light of the upcoming revision of Regulation 1025/2012 and its crucial role underpinning the functioning of the Single Market.
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SBS replies to the Consultation on Digital Product Passport Service Providers
Small Business Standards has published its reply to the European Commission’s consultation on rules for Digital Product Passport (DPP) service providers. Certification is key to building trust and interoperability in the DPP ecosystem—but must remain accessible, especially for SMEs. SBS advocates for a hybrid, risk-based conformity assessment model combining self-declaration for low-risk cases with third-party certification for high-risk scenarios. Both approaches should rely on harmonised European standards to ensure consistency across sectors and avoid fragmentation. SBS also stresses the importance of aligning certification schemes with existing legislation, providing clear guidance, and ensuring fair access to DPP data without excessive fees. Tailored tools and support for SMEs are essential to prevent exclusion and foster innovation in the evolving DPP ecosystem.
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Publication of SBS Experts Activities Report 2024 | |
SBS recently released its 2024 Experts Activities Report, showcasing the work and key contributions of its experts across European and international standardisation. The report highlights major achievements, facts and figures, and how SBS experts championed the interests of European SMEs, especially in driving the EU’s green and digital (twin) transition. It also outlines the tools, activities and support SBS provided to its experts, and includes as an annex a full list of the standardisation technical bodies and topics covered in 2024. | | | | | |
Publication of SBS Annual Report 2024 | |
This detailed report thoroughly examines our past year’s activities, achievements, and significant impact, highlighting our unwavering commitment to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across Europe.
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Results of feasibility study on Digital Product Passport for Construction Products
SBS took part in the advisory board of the feasibility study commissioned by the European Commission on the establishment of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the revised Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3110). The study, carried out by a consortium led by Tecnalia, assessed the feasibility of creating a system to manage product-related information digitally, covering the Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC), environmental data, and documentation required by EU law. The DPP must also align with the framework of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and be compatible with BIM.
Three options were examined: a centralised system managed by the Commission; a decentralised system using licensed service providers; and a decentralised system where manufacturers manage their own databases. The decentralised model with licensed providers was identified as the most balanced solution. It offers good scalability, lower costs for the Commission, and reliable integration with existing systems. It also allows SMEs to choose service providers while benefiting from harmonised requirements. However, it requires a robust governance and certification framework. The manufacturer-led model was found as the easiest for integration with internal systems, but raises concerns around data consistency, reliability, and access for authorities. Finally, the centralised option ensures strong control but would be costly and slow to implement.
SBS has consistently advocated for solutions that facilitate compliance for SMEs without adding disproportionate administrative burdens. In this respect, the study confirmed that the future CPR DPP system will require careful attention to governance, access rights and the development of a European Data Dictionary. This dictionary is necessary to ensure that product information is machine-readable, interoperable with BIM and aligned with harmonised technical specifications.
The study also highlights the need for immediate action in this area, as the legal obligations set out in the CPR and ESPR will start applying in the coming years. SBS will continue to follow the next steps closely, in particular the development of the European Data Dictionary and the standardisation activities under CEN/TC 442 and CEN/CLC/JTC 24.
The full feasibility study is publicly available here.
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SBS joins the EU Commission Task Force “Environmental Matters” of the Medical device Coordination Group (MDCG)
Small Business Standards (SBS) has strengthened its engagement in sustainable medical-device policy by joining the newly established Environmental Matters Task Force under the European Commission’s Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG). The MDCG—organised into thirteen expert sub-groups covering topics from notified-body oversight and standardisation to market surveillance and clinical investigations—recently launched this new Task Force to examine how existing legislation can be adapted to promote circularity and reduce environmental impact in the medical-device sector. SBS experts have until now contributed to the MDCG’s Sub-Group on Standards and will now represent SME interests in this broader sustainability initiative.
At the first meeting on 19 June 2025, two distinct workstreams were outlined:
- Legislative Mapping & Contributions: Reviewing relevant horizontal EU laws, monitoring forthcoming regulatory proposals, and drafting targeted suggestions for integrating sustainability requirements into the medical-device framework.
- Incentivising Innovation: Identifying regulatory, financial, and market-based incentives to encourage the development and uptake of more environmentally friendly solutions without compromising product safety or performance.
In addition, the Task Force might also evaluate whether certain measures, such as exemptions for medical devices, extended implementation periods, or a dedicated delegated act under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), are necessary to balance environmental objectives with uninterrupted access to essential healthcare products.
The members of the group are currently looking for data and study contributions from relevant stakeholders and the task force plans to meet once a month. SBS members and external experts who wish to contribute with insights or data to the Task Force are invited to contact Frédéric Dufour.
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SBS is hiring a Secretary General
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Secretary General to lead the organisation and represent its interests at European level. Reporting to the Board and President, the Secretary General will be responsible for the overall management, advocacy, and development of the organisation, ensuring its operational effectiveness, financial sustainability, and visibility. Applications should be sent to the attention of Ms Gunilla Almgren, SBS president by 7 August 2025.
Discover the job offer here.
| | | | Regulation (EU) 1025/2012 on European standardisation
Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation lays down the structure and rules of the European standardisation system. Its main objective is to create the conditions for a timely and inclusive development of high-quality harmonised standards that are requested by the European Commission to support EU legislation and policy priorities.
The Regulation also outlines the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders (European Standardisation Organisations, National Standardisation Bodies and National Committees, the European Union/EFTA and Member States) in this process.
The Regulation makes the standardisation process more inclusive by ensuring the involvement of European SMEs, and societal stakeholders, i.e. consumers, trade unions, environmental interests. These groups are represented by dedicated European organisations known as the ‘Annex III organisations’, named after its Annex III. One of these is Small Business Standards (SBS) which speaks on behalf of European SMEs in standardisation efforts.
Regulation 1025/2012 has also the goal to support innovation by using European standards as tools to strengthen the EU's Single Market and make it even more competitive, inclusive and resilient.
After an evaluation carried out over the last year, the European Commission launched in June 2025 an impact assessment which will likely lead to a revision of the Regulation. This process will focus on tackling the shortcomings identified in the evaluation, mainly the speed of the standards development process, the responsiveness to market needs and technological developments, and the need to further enhance inclusiveness in the European standardisation system.
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🔹CEN and CENELEC publish their Annual Report 2024
On 27 June CEN and CENELEC published their Annual Report 2024. The report gives an overall recap of the facts and figures for 2024, highlighting primarily on standardisation work carried out in sustainability, digital technologies and innovation. The report also focuses on recent EU standardisation policy development and the new cycle of the EU institution, as well as international cooperation in standardisation.
🔹CEN workshop on Guidelines to establish the carbon bill of the refurbishment of buildings open for comments On 25 June, CEN published a first draft of a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) on Guidelines to establish the carbon bill of the refurbishment of buildings. The Draft CWA is open for comments for 8 weeks, until 21 August. Comments to the draft can be submitted to the Workshop Secretary, Aitor Aragon, using the corresponding commenting form.
🔹CEN workshop on Zero-Defect Manufacturing – Basic Principles
On 18 June, CEN published the draft of a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) on Zero-Defect Manufacturing – Basic Principles. The Draft CWA is open for comments for 30 days, until 18 July. Comments to the draft can be submitted to the Workshop Secretary, A Yusuf Yilmaz (Yusuf.Yilmaz@din.de), using the corresponding commenting form.
🔹New website launched to support standardisation on the Cyberresilience Act (CRA)
The STAN4CRA project is supported by CEN-CENELEC and ETSI and financed by the EU and EFTA. The project engages technical committees with the aim of producing horizontal and vertical standards in support of the CRA at least one year ahead of its date of entering into force. The project seeks the support of industry, stakeholders and market surveillance authorities to promote their participation in standards development and ensure that standards in support of the CRA are of high quality, developed in a timely manner and drafted with the input of all relevant stakeholders.
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🔹Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/893 of 14 May 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2191 as regards harmonised standards for digital enhanced cordless telecommunications devices, short range devices, satellite systems, broadband and wideband data transmission systems, international mobile telecommunication systems, aeronautical and meteorological radars, 5 and 6 GHz WAS/RLAN equipment, wireless digital video links, and advanced surface movement guidance and control systems.
🔹Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/895 of 14 May 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 as regards the harmonised standards for hearing protectors, personal fall protection equipment, mountaineering equipment, knee protectors, protective clothing against tick bites and electrically insulating helmets, drafted in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The latest list of harmonised standards referenced in the Official Journal, including the consolidated list of references, can be viewed on the European Commission website.
| | | | | | | | 🔹17/11 - 21/11 | Meeting Standards Week - Participate 🔹20/11 | SBS Annual Event - European AI Act: Navigating Opportunities & Challenges for SMEs - Save the date
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