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To read the SBS Newsletter in your language, click HERE, select your language on the top, paste the newsletter's in the field "Websites" and click Translate | | | | | | Meeting Standards Week: Increasing Awareness and Engagement | | SBS celebrates a successful Meeting Standards Week
SBS is pleased to share the highlights of the successful Meeting Standards week, held from 25 to 29 November 2024. This European initiative is an annual campaign that helps SMEs connect with the world of standardisation.
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.
A Week of Engagement and Learning
The week played host to a dynamic range of events and activities organised by standardisation bodies and SME organisations throughout Europe. These events offered SMEs valuable opportunities to:
Gain in-depth knowledge about standardisation through webinars and trainings:
- "Demystifying standards webinar series – Creating standards: Understanding the process" co-organised by SBS and SMEunited.
- Training about standardisation for SMEs in the lift sector organised by EFESME in cooperation with the Bulgarian Standards Organisation (BDS) and the Bulgarian Association of Lift Manufacturers (ALM).
- "Training about standardization and light electric vehicles" a webinar organised by LEVA-EU.
Engage in practical discussions like:
Dive deeper into specific topics and their relation to standards:
SBS extends a big thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of Meeting Standards Week. Thanks to your contribution, many SMEs gained valuable insights into the benefits of standardisation and how they can participate actively in shaping standards in Europe.
| | | | | | SBS Annual Conference during Meeting Standards week
The SBS Annual Conference, held at EFTA House during Meeting Standards Week, marked a significant milestone as our first in-person event since the pandemic.
Focused on the theme "Repair for SMEs Growth: Guiding SMEs through the Right to Repair Directive and Standards," the conference delved into the opportunities and challenges for SMEs presented by the EU's Right to Repair Directive and Ecodesign legislation.
We explored how standards can support SMEs in adopting repair-friendly practices while maintaining competitiveness and sustainability. Discussions covered the policy and legal landscape, the interplay with the Digital Product Passport, and the impact on the repair industry.
Watch the Conference Recordings
To revisit the insightful discussions and learn more about the latest developments in repair and standardisation, watch the conference recordings here.
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SBS publishes position paper on the evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation
In October, SBS published its position paper on the evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation. The ongoing evaluation is a pivotal point in the future of the European standardisation system and for all European SMEs.
In the paper, SBS reiterates its support for the current text of Regulation 1025/2012 stresses that the Regulation is still fit for purpose and that it is not necessary to amend its main provisions. The focus should rather be on the full and effective implementation of its principles.
While the Regulation has brought strong and tangible improvements in the role of SMEs in the European standardisation system, it has to be acknowledged that there are areas where the implementation of the provisions of the Regulation is falling short.
In the paper, SBS highlights four main areas where a fuller and more effective implementation of the Regulation is necessary:
🔹Article 5 – Stakeholder participation in European standardisation 🔹Article 6 – Access of SMEs to standards 🔹Article 10 – Standardisation requests to European standardisation organisations (and Harmonised standards) 🔹Articles 13 and 14 – Identification of ICT technical specifications eligible for referencing and their use in public procurement
In the paper, SBS provides tangible evidence for the existing shortcomings in implementation and concrete proposals for improvement. | | | |
SBS speaks in SME Assembly workshop on access of SMEs to standardisation
On 19 November, SBS participated in the workshop “Setting the Standards: Innovative Approaches for SME Involvement”, which took place during the SME Assembly Week in Budapest.
The workshop was moderated by Sophie Müller, Head of Unit for standardisation in the European Commission. Next to SBS, the speaker list also included Alexandra Horn (Head of SME support at the German Institute for Standards, DIN), Athina Panayiotou (Director General at the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation, CYS) and Johannes Springinsfeld, entrepreneur in an Austrian family-run SME in the field of roofing and SBS standardisation expert.
The goal of the workshop was to find solutions to establish a stronger role for SMEs and entrepreneurs in standardisation at the national and European levels. This requires improvements in the conditions to access standardisation at national level (lower fees for SME participation, more proactive engagement from the National Standards Bodies, public funding and tax rebates for SMEs that join standardisation work), and measures to support the effective participation of SMEs and entrepreneurs that already participate in the system.
During the discussion SBS brought forward the findings of the Report and the Recommendations recently developed by the High-Level Forum on European standardisation workstream dedicated to inclusiveness in standardisation at national level.
Another crucial element is to boost the uptake and use of standards by SMEs. Standards can be a vital tool for SMEs to comply with legislation, innovate, grow and access new markets. | | | | | |
Publication of the 2023 report of SBS experts’ activities
SBS recently published its2023 experts’ activities report which provides an overview of the work carried out by SBS experts in 2023 in standardisation committees at the European and international levels. The report highlights key facts and figures on experts and their main actions, contributions and achievements in support of European SMEs in 2023. | | | |
New SME Guide on Standardisation for Light Electric Vehicules
Standards play a crucial role in ensuring safety, technical compliance, and a level playing field for smaller companies.
This new guide, a collaboration between LEVA-EU and SBS, provides a comprehensive resource about standardisation for SMEs in the Light Electric Vehicules (LEV) sector. This is particularly the case for companies dealing with electric cycles, e-scooters, and self-balancing vehicles (excluded from Regulation (EU) No 168/2013).
What’s inside the guide?
🔹Understand the importance of standards: Learn how standards benefit SMEs in the sector by helping to ensure safety, best practices, reducing costs, and enabling fair competition. 🔹Navigate the standardisation process: Gain insights into all aspects of standardisation, from involvement in their drafting to utilising published standards. 🔹Find answers quickly: The guide is designed for easy navigation. Read it cover-to-cover or jump directly to specific questions using the provided table of contents.
This guide will be regularly updated to reflect changes in the standardisation landscape. | | | |
Cybersecurity trainings for SMEs
SBS, in collaboration with European Digital SME Alliance, has produced a series of training videos with good practices to improve cybersecurity and information security for SMEs.
Two of the videos also go into detail as to how to manage a cybersecurity incident and minimise its impact, when one happens.
The five training videos cover many sensitive areas for potential cybersecurity breaches:
🔹Asset management 🔹Access control management 🔹Policies, standards and guidelines 🔹Incident management 🔹Fighting malware
Each video is accompanied by a self-evaluation tool, where the user can immediately answer questions related to the video just watched and verify their understanding of the content.
This series of training videos also builds on the SBS Guide on Information Security Management controls, published in 2021. The guide supports SMEs in the implementation of standard ISO 27001, the most widely used standard worldwide on matters of information security.
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Discover SME Standardisation Guide 17 in video
The Guide 17 promotional video is a joint initiative of SBS, CEN and CENELEC.
This video seeks to support the development of standards that consider the needs of SMEs by promoting the Guide17 also referred to as the ‘SME Standardisation Guide’. The CEN-CENELEC Guide 17 proposes several strategies to address SMEs’ needs in the standards drafting process. It features:
🔹 Information on the preparation of new work items; 🔹 Issues to be considered when drafting a standard; 🔹 Developing the content of the standard; 🔹 The structure and presentation of the content; 🔹 The implications resulting from standards; 🔹 A final checklist helping standard writers to take into account SME needs.
Watch the video here. | | | | | |
Demystifying Standards - A Series of free Webinars to Master Standardisation
SBS and SMEunited announced in September a collaborative effort offering 4 free webinars designed to empower SME associations and their members with the knowledge of standardisation.
Join us over the last webinar 18 December (at 14:00 CEST). You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain practical advice to benefit your association and its members.
Register by sending an email to Doris Rabetge at d.rabetge@smeunited.eu.
🔹 1. Why Standards Matter: key concepts explained 26 September 2024 | 14 - 14.45 CEST
🔹 2. Standards and Regulations: Navigating the Compliance maze 23 October 2024 | 14 - 14.45 CEST
🔹 3. Creating standards: Understanding the process 27 November 2024 | 14 - 14.45 CEST
🔹 4. Get involved: Shaping standards to the benefit of SMEs 18 December 2024 | 14 - 14.45 CEST | | | | | | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
A Technical Specification is a document developed by one or more Standards Organisations including requirements or guidelines in relation to a technology, product, test method.... Unlike European Standards, National Standards Bodies are not required to adopt Technical Specifications as national standards and withdraw conflicting documents. They are just required to make them available at the national level.
Technical Specifications are developed when it may be too early to develop a European standard because technology is still evolving, but a reference document may be useful for the market. A document may also be adopted as a Technical Specification where there is no consensus to approve a European Standard.
A Technical Specification may compete against another Technical Specification with the same scope (e.g., two alternative test methods for measuring the same product feature). However, a Technical Specification cannot conflict with a European Standard.
The reference of a European Technical Specification starts with the initials ‘CEN/TS’, ‘CLC/TS’, ‘CEN/CLC/TS’ or ‘ETSI TS’ depending on whether CEN, CENELEC and/or ETSI developed it. If the concerned Technical Specification is developed in cooperation with an international standards organisation, the reference will include the initials of that body, i.e. ‘CEN ISO/TS’, ‘CLC IEC/TS’ or ‘CEN/CLC ISO/IEC/TS’.
When the Technical Specification is made available at the national level, the reference also includes the initials of the National Standards Body. For example, the reference of a European Technical Specification published by DIN (Germany) will start with ‘DIN CEN/TS’.
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🔹Proposal for the development of a new standard on remanufacturing
On 18 December at 10:00 the CEN/TC 473 on Circular Economy will organise a webinar to present a new DIN proposal to develop a standard on re-manufacturing. Interested people can access the webinar through the following link.
🔹Launch of a CEN-CENELEC Workshop on “Digital Product Passport for Printed Circuit Boards”
On 20 January 2025, the virtual kickoff meeting of a new CEN-CENELEC workshop on Digital Product Passport for Printed Circuit Boards’ will be held. The goal of the workshop is to produce a workshop agreement on this matter, to be finalised before the end of 2025. Registrations to the kickoff meeting are still open, and comments to the Draft project plan for the workshop can be sent to the Workshop secretary, Sarah Koehler (Sarah.koehler@din.de) by 10 January 2024.
🔹Comments open on CEN Workshop on ‘'Intelligent Road intervention processes (IRIP)
On 6 December, the final drafts of two CEN Workshop Agreements (CWA) on the automation of road maintenance technologies were concluded. The two draft CWAs are now open for public comments for a period of 45 days until 24 January 2024. Comments can be submitted to the Workshop Secretariat Mr. Francisco Javier Idiago Lopez (fidiago@une.org) using the relevant commenting forms.
🔹Comments open on CEN-CENELEC Workshop on Standardized On-site SRI Building Audits: Framework Development Workshop
On 26 November, the final draft of a CEN-CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA) on “Standardized On-site SRI Building Audits: Framework Development Workshop” was concluded. The draft CWA is now open for public comments for a period of 30 days until 26 December. Comments can be submitted to the Workshop Secretariat, Cristina STĂNIŞTEANU (cristina.stanisteanu@asro.ro) using the commenting form. 🔹Proposal for a new ISO Technical Committee on Ports and terminals
In October SAC (the Chinese national standards body) proposed the creation of a new ISO Technical Committee (TC) on Ports and terminals. If created the TC would cover planning, implementation, operation, upgrading, demolition and repurposing stages for both coastal and inland river ports and terminals. The deadline for National Standards Bodies to provide feedback on the creation of this new TC is 18 January 2025. Contact the NSB in your country to comment on the proposal.
🔹Prooposal for a new ISO Technical Committee on Ayurveda and Yoga
In October BIS (the Indian national standards body) proposed the creation of a new ISO Technical Committee (TC) on Ayurveda and Yoga. If created, the TC would focus on terminology quality and safety of ingredients of ayurveda products, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, health, wellness and procedures, protocols and practices. The deadline for National Standards Bodies (NSB) on the proposal is 1st of January. Contact the NSB in your country as soon as possible to comment on the proposal.
| | | | | | | | | | | | 🔹18/12 - (10:00-11:00) | Webinar on Remanifacturing - CEN-CENELEC TC 473 Circular Economy - Register 🔹11/02 - 12/02 | SBS Experts Meeting (Session for new experts: 11/02; Session for all experts: 12/02) 🔹16/01/2025 (10:00-12:00) | Webinar 'Introduction to CEN-CLC/JTC 23 - Horizontal Topics for PPE - Register 🔹10/02 - 12/02/2025 | ETSI Artificial Intelligence Conference - How Standardization is Shaping the Future of AI - Register
SBS team is wishing you a wonderful end to the year and a bright start to 2025! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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