CEN CENELEC NORMAPME Joint Press Release
Brussels, Belgium, 2011-10-03

„Norma‟, „standardite‟, „normas‟, „norem‟, „προτύπων‟, „standarder‟: standards affect enterprises and consumers all over Europe.  As a key player in the European market and abroad, it is important that SMEs are aware of the added value of standards for their business and the various ways to participate in the standardization process.

The CEN-CENELEC Guide 17 „Guidance for writing European Standards taking into account micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) needs‟raises awareness on the issues that may be of importance to SMEs in the development of standards with the ultimate aim of increasing the uptake of European Standards amongst SMEs. Providing advice and a useful checklist, the Guide addresses the issues to be considered during the development process of preparing European Standards relevant to SMEs.

“This guide is a great tool and we hope standards writers all over Europe will use it”, said NORMAPME Secretary General Klaus Yongden Tillmann.

“The CEN-CENELEC Guide 17 is already helping SMEs to exploit the benefits of applying European Standards. It is another step to facilitate their use and their understanding,” quotes Elena Santiago Cid, Director General CEN CENELEC

The guide is a joint initiative of NORMAPME and CEN and CENELEC. It was published in its English original version in June 2011. To make it easier for standard writers and SMEs to read and apply the CEN-CENELEC Guide 17, national language versions of the guide are provided and free for download at the following links on the NORMAPME website and the CEN and CENELEC websites.

For updates news on standardization support available to SMEs please visit the websites of CEN, CENELEC and NORMAPME throughout the SME Week 2011.

View the full press release

Contact Media
Christine Van Vlierden
Unit Manager
Tel: + 32 2 550 09 26
Email: cvanvlierden@cencenelec.eu

SMEs
Christine Tack
Programme Manager Innovation
Tel: +32 2 550 08 23
Email: sme@cencenelec.eu