Commission Notice The annual Union work programme for European standardisation for 2021 2020/C 437/02
Date: 2020-12-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
Subjects: action programme, climate change, coronavirus disease, economic recovery, energy efficiency, epidemic, international cooperation, international trade, single market, standardisation








C_2020437EN.01000401.xml










18.12.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 437/4






COMMISSION NOTICE
The annual Union work programme for European standardisation for 2021
(2020/C 437/02)
The European Standardisation Regulation (1), adopted in 2012, foresees in its Article 8 that an ‘annual Union work programme for European standardisation’ should be adopted by the Commission.
Therefore, this Commission Notice identifies the European standards and European standardisation deliverables that the Commission intends to request for the year 2021, as well as the specific objectives and policies for these standards and deliverables.
These actions on European standardisation are embedded in Union policies, such as the ‘twin transition’ (digital and green) as well as the digital and single markets, recovery post-COVID-19, energy efficiency & climate and international trade. Standards support these policies to ensure that European products and services are competitive worldwide and reflect state-of-the-art safety, security, health and environmental considerations.
The specific standards and deliverables that the Commission intends to request are presented in the Annex to this notice, and they concern the following policy fields:






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Ecodesign and energy labelling










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Batteries










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Waste electrical and electronic equipment










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Lifts










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Metrology










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Postal services










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Public procurement










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Childcare articles










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Refuelling, recharging points










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Marine equipment










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Medical devices










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Drinking water










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Electronic Toll Service










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Artificial Intelligence systems










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Online Platforms










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Digital Identity










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Smart Contracts




At the international level, the Commission will continue to follow the standardisation developments in China and the United States of America, as well as in other major EU trading partners. The Commission will also support standardisation as an essential part of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) chapter of every free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated and will remain so in the future.


(1)  Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 316, 14.11.2012, p. 12).




ANNEX
The priorities for European standardisation for 2021 are focusing on the development of European standards in support of the twin transitions towards climate neutrality and digital leadership and on strengthening the recovery and resilience of European industry.
Given the circumstances with COVID-19, the development of standards responding to the technological updates and the market demands for medical devices is crucial. These standards will support the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on Medical Devices and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices – see action 16 in the table below.
Aiming to improve the safety of lifts with the recent technological evolutions, the Commission will ask for revisions of the standardisation work in that sector. These standards will support the implementation of Directive 2014/33/EU related to lifts, including their safety components – see action 8 in the table below.
On measuring instruments, the Commission will ask for standards to match with cutting edge technologies in the field. These standards will support the implementation of Directive 2014/31/EU on Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments and of Directive 2014/32/EU on Measuring Instruments – see action 9 in the table below.
Progress in the interconnection of postal networks and the interests of users require that technical standardisation be encouraged. The Commission will ask for standards related to the implementation of Directive 97/67/EC on common rules for the development of the internal market of EU postal services and service quality improvement – see action 10 in the table below.
In the field of public procurement, the Commission will ask for standards to facilitate interoperability between public procurement buyers and suppliers, especially at a cross-border level. These standards will support the implementation of Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement – see action 11 in the table below.
The Commission, in implementation of Directive 2001/95/EC on General Product Safety, will ask for standardisation work on new safety requirements, which take into account state-of-the-art scientific and technical knowledge – see action 12 in the table below.
The Directive 2009/125/EC on ecodesign and Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 on energy labelling have proved highly successful and secured considerable energy savings over the past decade by ensuring that more durable and long-lasting products are put on the European market. On the one hand, ecodesign sets minimum thresholds for products to comply with energy efficiency and material efficiency requirements. On the other hand, energy labels pull consumers towards the most efficient products.
In this context, the Commission will request further standards in support of several product-specific ecodesign and energy labelling requirements covering, among others, light sources and separate control gears, industrial fans, electronic displays, refrigeration appliances with a direct sales function or refrigerating appliances.
According to the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 on energy labelling and the Directive 2009/125/EC on ecodesign requirements, the Commission will propose the development of standards to measure the energy performance of fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW, of light sources and separate control gears, of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function, of servers and data storage products and possibly of photovoltaic products (modules, inverters and systems). These standards will support the implementing acts related to the specific product categories – see actions 1 to 5 in the table below.
To support the proposal for a Regulation on sustainability, collection and recycling requirements for batteries the Commission will request standards to provide for detailed technical specifications concerning the design and manufacture of electrochemical rechargeable batteries with internal storage – see action 6 in the table below.
The Commission will ask for standards regarding the design and manufacture of electrochemical rechargeable batteries with internal storage which will improve their performance, durability, reuse, repurpose and recycling aspects. These standards will support the implementation of the future Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC – see action 7 in the table below.
New standards will be requested to ensure interoperability of electrical and hydrogen charging points for heavy-duty vehicles, including interoperability and safety of refuelling/recharging points for maritime and inland navigation. These standards will support the implementation of Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure – see action 13 in the table below.
In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal (1) regarding decarbonisation of transport and in support of Directive 2014/94/EU on alternative fuel infrastructures, the Commission will also initiate and support the development of standards containing detailed technical specifications for recharging and refuelling points to improve the uptake of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, as well as the deployment of innovative maritime and inland navigation vessels. These standards will also support the recovery of the mobility ecosystem (2)– see action 14 in the table below.
Within the framework of the recovery of the industrial ecosystem “Mobility-Automotive” and in support of the Directive 2014/90/EU on marine equipment, the Commission will support the development of standards for fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk. These standards will, at the same time, increase marine safety not only for gas tankers but also for gas propelled passenger ships – see action 15 in the table below.
On the quality of water intended for human consumption, the Commission will ask for standards aiming to reduce energy use and unnecessary water loss. These standards will support the implementation of the future Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption– see action 17 in the table below.
The Commission will ask for standards to ensure a high level of interoperability of electronic road toll systems for users within the scope of Directive (EU) 2019/520 – see action 18 in the table below.
Also, the Commission will ask for the development of standards to address the trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence systems (3), to make online platforms safer (4),to support the European Digital Identity Reference Framework (5) and the implementation of smart contracts (6)– see actions 19 to 22 in the table below.









Ref


Title of the action


Policy/legislative reference


European standards/European standardisation deliverables to be requested


Specific objectives and policies for European standards/European standardisation deliverables to be requested




1


Ecodesign


Commission Regulation (EU) No 327/2011 of 30 March 2011 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW


Revision of existing standards and development of new standards for industrial fans.


The main objective is to define a sufficient number of operating points and an interpolation/calculation method, but also to limit the environmental impact of fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW and increase the market penetration of technologies that limit the life-cycle environmental impact of this type of fans.




2


Ecodesign and energy labelling


Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 with regard to energy labelling of refrigerating appliances


Development of new standards to measure the relevant product parameters by using reliable, accurate and reproducible methods which take into account recognised state-of-the-art measurement methods.


The main objective is to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerating appliances with an estimated 10 TWh of annual final energy savings in 2030.




3


Ecodesign and energy labelling


Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2021 of 1 October 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for electronic displays pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2013 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU)2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of electronic displays


Revision of existing standards and development of new standards for electronic displays covering high dynamic range (HDR) encoding function and resolution levels above k (or HD), setting a specific testing method for behaviours of ABC, and adapting verification methods for plastics additives content.


The main objective is to reduce the energy consumption of televisions, monitors and digital signage displays.




4


Ecodesign and energy labelling


Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 of 1 October 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for light sources and separate control gears pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of light sources


Revision of existing standards and development of new standards covering procedures and methods for measuring the required parameters for fluorescent and high intensity discharge lamps, for ballasts able to operate such lamps, for luminaires able to operate such lamps for luminaires for office lighting and for luminaires for street lighting.


The main objective is to reduce the energy consumption of light sources with an estimated 41,9 TWh of annual final energy savings in 2030.




5


Ecodesign and energy labelling


Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2024 laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2018 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function


Revision of existing standards and development of new standards for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function covering methods and calculations for measuring the required parameters.


The main objective is to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function with an estimated 48 TWh of annual final energy savings in 2030.




6


Batteries


PLAN/2019/5391 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on sustainability, collection and recycling requirements for batteries, repealing the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC


Development of new European standards covering measurement tests for battery packs/modules with regard to the design and manufacture of electrochemical rechargeable batteries with internal storage.


The main objective is to ensure conformity with performance requirements in applicable legislation, in particular, to describe necessary steps and conditions for the measurement of the following parameters: Capacity, Power, Internal resistance, Capacity retention, Power fade, Internal resistance increase, Energy round trip efficiency. The requested standards should also provide guidance on how to ensure that modular design and reversible assembly techniques facilitate the maintenance, repair and repurpose of battery packs and modules.




7


Waste electrical and electronic equipment


PLAN/2019/5391 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on sustainability, collection and recycling requirements for batteries, repealing the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC


Revision of existing European standards and development of new European standards for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste batteries with regard to i) material-efficient high-quality recycling and preparation for re-use of key waste streams: waste electrical and electronic equipment – WEEE (including photovoltaic panels), waste batteries, end-of-life vehicles and waste windmills, and ii) EU-wide quality requirements for secondary raw materials.


The main objective of this ancillary action is to support the European Green Deal in the ambitions to facilitate industry’s transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For this, sustainable technologies are key, and strategies need to be explored to recover precious resources such as critical raw materials in the processes. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste batteries are two well-known (end-of-life product) waste flows containing critical raw materials. Establishing, or complementing European standards on the management including of these waste flows would be relevant for increasing the circularity of critical raw materials in electronic products, batteries and other waste flows.




8


Lifts


Directive 2014/33/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts and safety components for lifts


Revision of existing harmonised standards, in particular of the EN 81 series and development of new standards for lifts.


The main objective is to improve safety and to facilitate market access, in particular for SMEs. This will contribute to the competitiveness of EU companies on the global market place where standards are widely recognised. Consumers and building owners will benefit from further improved safety. Economic operators will benefit from legal certainty. Unnecessary administrative burden will be reduced through removing elements other than technical specifications for products. Accessibility of built environment will be improved.




9


Metrology


Directive 2014/31/EU Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments
Directive 2014/32/EU Measuring Instruments


Revision of the existing harmonised standards.


The main objective is to update the existing standards to technical progress in line with current state of the art technological development.




10


Postal services


Directive 97/67/EC on common rules for the development of the internal market of EU postal services and service quality improvement


Revision of existing European standards and development of new European standards in the area of quality of service.


The main objective is to support the provision of a universal postal service within the internal market.




11


Public procurement


Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement


Development of new European standards with regard to technical formats, process and messaging standards in the area of public procurement.


The main objective is to ensure the interoperability of technical formats, process and messaging standards in the area of public procurement. The European standards to be developed will aim to facilitate interoperability between public procurement buyers and suppliers, especially at a cross-border level. Achieving interoperability is essential to ensure the single market in Europe.




12


Childcare articles


Directive 2001/95/EC on General Product Safety (GPSD)


Development of new European standards with regard to children products which are not toys.


The main objective is to protect children’s safety and/or health. The European standards to be developed will also help public authorities by providing them with benchmarks to carry out market surveillance actions and give legal certainty to businesses (including SMEs).




13


Refuelling, recharging points


PLAN/2019/6184 - Revision of Directive 2014/94/EU on the Deployment of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure


Development of new European standards for:






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electric charging points for Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs)










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hydrogen refuelling points for Heavy Duty Vehicles (HVDs), including the relevant connector










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vehicle to grid communication (V2G)






The main objective is to resolve the current issues of interoperability and technical functioning associated to alternative fuels infrastructure and consumption. The requested European standards will also improve the market uptake of zero-emission HDVs in line with the Green Deal goals.




14


Refuelling, recharging points


Revision of Directive 2014/94/EU on the Deployment of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure


Development of new European standards for interoperability and safety of refuelling/recharging points for maritime and inland navigation with regard to:






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electric recharging points for maritime vessels










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electric recharging points for inland waterways vessels










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battery swapping for inland waterways vessels










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hydrogen refuelling points for maritime Fuel Cell and H2 (FCH) vessels










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hydrogen refuelling points for inland waterways FCH vessels










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methanol bunkering










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ammonia bunkering






The main objective is to support the deployment of innovative maritime and inland navigation vessels to meet the Green Deal objectives of decarbonisation of transport. The requested European standards will provide more certainty for interoperability in refuelling the innovative fuel in EU inland and maritime ports.




15


Marine equipment


Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1170 on design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards for marine equipment, Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on marine equipment and repealing Council Directive 96/98/EC


Development of a new European standard for testing of fixed dry chemical powder and related fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk and ships using gas as a propellant.


The main objective is to improve maritime safety. The International Maritime Organisation is revising the Guidelines for the approval of fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk, but so far, there is no validated test standard for a jet and/or cable tray fire test. The development of such a standard, in close coordination with ISO, should improve maritime safety not only for gas tankers but also for gas propelled passenger ships.




16


Medical devices


Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on Medical Devices and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices


Revision of existing standards and development of new standards for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices.


The main objective is to update the existing standards to the state of the art in sectorial technologies to enable users and patients to benefit from the highest level of safety.




17


Drinking water


Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast)
COM/2017/0753 final - 2017/0332 (COD)


The development of new European standards with regard to analytical methods, including detection limits, parameter values and frequency of sampling for monitoring of relevant substances, in particular per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).


The main objective is to ensure everyone has access to a minimum water supply and manage drinking water in a resource-efficient and sustainable manner, thereby helping to reduce energy use and unnecessary water loss.




18


European Electronic Toll Service


Directive (EU) 2019/520 on the interoperability of electronic road toll systems and facilitating cross-border exchange of information on the failure to pay road fees in the Union, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/203 on classification of vehicles, obligations of European Electronic Toll Service users, requirements for interoperability constituents and minimum eligibility criteria for notified bodies, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/204 on detailed obligations of European Electronic Toll Service providers, minimum content of the European Electronic Toll Service domain statement, electronic interfaces, and requirements for interoperability constituents


Development of new European standards for electronic interfaces for the use by European Electronic Toll Service providers and toll chargers ensuring the adequate functioning of the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system.


The main objective is to ensure a high level of interoperability of electronic road toll systems for users throughout the Union and ensuring equal conditions of competition among relevant economic operators dealing with road charging and electronic tolling, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises. Indirectly, those standards also contribute to lower costs benefitting consumers in particular.




19


Artificial Intelligence systems


Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council laying down requirements for Artificial Intelligence
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e4c43528-ccfc-11ea-adf7-01aa75ed71a1/language-en


Development of new European standards and guidelines for Artificial Intelligence systems addressing trustworthiness including for instance aspects of accountability, transparency, robustness, accessibility and disability inclusiveness, fairness, privacy and ethical use.


The main objective is to ensure that, through standards, Artificial Intelligence systems are trustworthy, are beneficial for citizens and society, respect fundamental values and human rights recognized in Europe, strengthen European competitiveness and are governed appropriately throughout their lifecycle.




20


Online Platforms


PLAN/2020/7444: Proposal for a Digital Services Act
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-services-act-package


Development of new European standards for several processes on dealing with user-generated content, such as submission of notices by private users or trusted flaggers, removal orders by authorities, reporting obligations or complaint mechanisms.


The main objective is to ensure that, through EU wide common standards, compliance with the obligations imposed by the Digital Services Act to some types of information society services is made easier; and to make online platforms safer.




21


Digital Identity


PLAN/2020/8518 : Proposal for a European Digital Identity (EUeID)
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/35274ac3-cd1b-11ea-adf7-01aa75ed71a1/language-en


Development of new European standards, specifications and guidelines for the European Digital Identity Reference Framework, addressing e.g. user authentication, secure communication and devices, the provision and validation of credentials as well as policy requirements for identity providers and their conformity assessment. Functional, interoperability, usability and performance requirements will be addressed as well as security, data protection and privacy.


The main objective is to support the implementation of a European Digital Identity Ecosystem by means of a common reference framework / standards, as well as deployment of identity schemes for a trusted and secure European e-ID (EUeID) for citizens and businesses to authenticate seamlessly to online services, while minimizing disclosure and retaining full control on data.




22


Smart Contracts


PLAN/2020/7444: Digital Services Act package: deepening the Internal Market and clarifying responsibilities for digital services
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-services-act-package


Development of new European standards for smart contracts and validators supporting the essential requirements of Article 42 of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 for electronic time stamps and qualified electronic time stamps based on blockchain and essential requirements to be defined in a new provision of the E-Commerce Directive (the future: “Digital Services Act”) for the smart contracts based on “tokenised” assets.


The main objective is to ensure that, through EU wide common standards, smart contracts on blockchains are legally equivalent to a written contract off-chain and that such contract is recognised as legally valid by courts in all EU Member States and that the digital representation of assets in tokens on smart contracts is correct and legally recognised due to the involvement of a token validator.






(1)  COM(2019) 640 final

(2)  SWD(2020) 98 final

(3)  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e4c43528-ccfc-11ea-adf7-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

(4)  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-services-act-package

(5)  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/35274ac3-cd1b-11ea-adf7-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

(6)  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-services-act-package