It has only recently become specifically involved in environment related activities. CEN has an agreement for technical cooperation with its global counterpart, the International Organization for Standardization ISO . However, nobody is obliged to use European Standards. The standards prepared are technical specifications ensuring compatibility between products, appropriate levels for their safety, quality or efficiency and the test methods needed to establish conformity to these specifications.
Standards are prepared in all the fields mentioned above.
A specific programme of activities related to environmental standardization has been developing in recent years.