WRITTEN QUESTION E-1145/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Application of ISO standards in EU Member States.
Date: 2001-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, European standard, international standard

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/213

(2001/C 318 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1145/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 April 2001)

Subject: Application of ISO standards in EU Member States

The International Standards Organisation was set up in 1947 to set international standards for technical,
physical and geographical quantities and units, including their symbols and spellings. ISO standards are the
result of close international cooperation and are recognised world-wide.

During the 1950s, the SI-system was created for scientific and technical units (metres, kilograms, seconds,
amperes). In 1974 all UN member countries and many entities (mostly islands) were given an official
symbol or code. ISO-3166 establishes three codes for each country or entity, a three-figure code, a code
consisting of 3 capital letters and one with 2 capital letters. If the structure of the State changes, and
provided this is recognised by the UN, the symbols may be changed.

Although ISO standards are internationally recognised, they are often wrongly used. Classic examples can
be found in the symbols used on cars and lorries, in international postal services, on traffic signs and in the
indications for currencies.

Does the Commission support the full and correct use of all ISO standards by EU Member States? If not,
why does the Council not consider it necessary for the EU Member States to use all ISO standards
correctly? If so, what steps will the Council take to ensure that all ISO standards are used fully and
correctly by EU Member States?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

With reference to the question regarding the application of International Standardisation Organisation
(ISO) standards in a complete way across the Member States, the Commission would like to stress that the
European (Community and European Free trade association (EFTA)) standardisation policy is primarily
aimed at developing European standards through the three European standards bodies, European
Committee for Standardisation (CEN), European Committee for electrotechnical standardisation (Cenelec)
and European telecommunications standards institute (ETSI). CEN and Cenelec members, the national
standards bodies, are also members of
the ISO and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). These are private bodies, contrary to some governmental
bodies that produce standards mainly for regulated sectors such as motor vehicles or food. Both European
bodies have close working arrangements with the private international standardisation bodies and a large
proportion of standards in CEN and Cenelec are identical to or based on the international standard, or they
are produced in parallel with the international standard.

international organisations,

the equivalent

In addition, Europe undertakes to apply international standards where possible and actively works within
the governmental international trade organisations (World Trade Organisation (WTO) / General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) etc) to improve the application of international standards. The application of
international standards in a harmonious way at global level is also promoted in order to facilitate trade and
avoid confusion that can be created by conflicting standards. While the production and application of
standards is generally voluntary, Member States and third countries are encouraged to apply international
standards, including ISO/CEN standards for country and currency codes. However, application of these
standards is only mandatory when expressly required in legislation. It should also be stressed that while
supporting international standards development,
the private
international standards bodies and is not participating in the elaboration of international standards.

the Commission is not a member of