In the autumn of 1999 the Environmental Helpdesk was set up in support of technical committees and working groups in order to integrate environmental issues in standards. A pilot phase is currently assessing more than 120 draft standards. This sector has been re-activated. Developments at a political level and incidents have motivated a seminar scheduled for October 2000 which will allow the sector to express its needs and identify the possible contribution of voluntary standardization. In addition to covering the essential requirements of the Union directive, some technical committees are now drafting amendments or supplementary parts to deal with energy labelling and environmental issues, in particular NOx.
New mandates cover risk management, and traceability of medical devices.
The first draft standards for fairground equipment were issued. 200 European Standards are now cited in the Official Journal. The standing and value of European Standards in support of the Union directives have been confirmed. Particular concerns relating to agricultural machinery, chainsaws, industrial trucks, mobile elevating work platforms and presses have been attacked with a closer involvement of the Member States and a recognition that the CEN Management Centre has been able to mediate in bringing them together with the national standards bodies. This sector coordinates activities in respect of quality of transport, maintenance, cleaning, removals and description of tourist services, for which the first standards were issued.