Comments Off on Last Call for LEVA-EU Standardization Workshop 27/02
Tomorrow, Tuesday 27 February,LEVA-EU is presenting an exclusive workshop on standardization for light, electric vehicles, including EPACs, E-Cargocycles, E-Scooters, etc. This insightful event is co-organized with SBS and promises a deep dive into the realm of standardization, offering invaluable information.
The event will take place online only from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Participation in the workshop is free for LEVA-EU and for SBS Members. Non-members pay € 175 for one participant, € 325 for 2 and € 450 for three. Participants must register in advance here: https://rb.gy/aq6s9p.
Upon registration (members) and payment (non-members), we will send you an invitation with a online link to the workshop shortly before the start of the meeting.
The agenda is as follows:
1. Short presentation LEVA-EU and SBS
2. What are standards?
3. Why European/international standards?
4. How is a standard being made?
5. How is a standard structured?
6. What’s the procedure to make and vote standards?
7. Why and how participate?
8. What’s the relation between standards and legislation?
9. What is (the use of) harmonizing standards?
10. How is a standard applied/used?
11. Which standards, relevant for light electric vehicles are currently being drafted?
Comments Off on SBS and SMEunited welcome agreement on amendment to Regulation on EU standardisation
Brussels, 20 October – SBS and SMEunited welcome the agreement by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on a technical amendment to Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation. The amendment, approved in yesterday’s Coreper I meeting, is part of the package of measures outlined in the Standardisation Strategy published by the European Commission last February.
SBS has supported the content of the amendment throughout the different stages of the discussion, expressing in its position paper on the subject that inclusiveness needs to be enhanced at all levels of standardisation, be it national, European or international. It is vital that a consultation of all stakeholders, including SMEs, is carried out at national level within the National Standardisation Bodies (NSBs) ahead of any decision concerning a standardisation request.
In this sense, SBS and SMEunited particularly welcome the newly created Recital 4(a), which stresses the need to ensure the “essential” representation of the interests of SMEs and other societal actors both at national level and within the European Standardisation Organisations. The text offers an improvement over the Commission’s already positive proposal by further highlighting the need for an inclusive, balanced and transparent standardisation system that properly considers the interests of SMEs and all relevant stakeholders.
Commenting on the agreement reached, SBS Secretary General Maitane Olabarria said: “The agreed text supports a stronger role of SMEs in European standardisation. Looking to the upcoming evaluation of Regulation 1025/2012, SBS renews the call for an effective implementation of its provisions, particularly concerning the participation and access of SMEs to standardisation at the national level.”
SBS represents and defends small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) interests in the standardisation process at European and international levels. Moreover, it aims at raising the awareness of SMEs about the benefits of standards and at encouraging them to get involved in the standardisation process. With Eddie Eccleston, LEVA-EU has an SBS-standard working in CEN TC333.
Comments Off on CEN and CENELEC Joint Response to the European Commission Standardization Strategy Roadmap, Plus New Website
CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, an association that brings together the National Standardization Bodies of 34 European countries, and CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, an association that brings together the National Electrotechnical Committees of 34 European countries, have issued a joint statement following the consultation on the Roadmap of the “European Strategy for Standardization”.
“CEN and CENELEC would like to thank the European Commission for organizing this consultation on the Roadmap of the “European Strategy for Standardization”. We welcome the consultation as a critical development in the joint efforts to build a robust, resilient, and competitive green economy for Europe, which encourages the alignment of strategies for and use of standardization as a key asset towards achieving these ambitions.
The feedback document details our proposals to address five specific areas in which standardization can support and for which a strong engagement with the European Commission is sought. These are supported by specific examples of what can be achieved together and that can shape our common aims going forward.”
The statement was posted on CEN and CENELEC’s brand new website, which aims to offer an enhanced user experience via a refreshed look, improved navigation and a handful of features intended to make the overall experience more impactful on either desktop, mobile or tablet.
Elena Santiago Cid, CEN and CENELEC’s Director General, commented: “The new website testifies to our ongoing commitment to making our work accessible, transparent and open to the future. We will be constantly updating the content to enhance the digital presence of CEN and CENELEC and increase our online interaction with our stakeholders and experts. I sincerely hope that you enjoy the new website and all that it has to offer!”
Comments Off on EU Standards for E-Cargocycles and for E-MTBs: an Update
CEN, the European standardization institute is currently preparing a standard for (e)cargocycles and for E-MTBs. Furthermore, there are a few issues with the published standard for electric bicycles, the EN 15194:2017. After last week’s meetings, it is time for an update.
With Manager, Annick Roetynck, and Technical Director, Bram Rotthier, LEVA-EU has two experts who are actively working on standardization in CEN TC333 – Cycles. LEVA-EU working member, Eddie Eccleston, has been appointed as an SBS-expert in that TC. He has to ensure that in the standardization work, the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are taken into account. Eddie Eccleston has established mirror groups for the TC333 – AGM as well as for WG5 – EPACs and for WG9 E-cargocycles. These mirror groups are open to any company that wishes to follow ongoing standardization, whilst not having the resources to become fully active as experts in TC333. On top of all this, LEVA-EU has been able to convince several members to take up the role of active experts in the CEN TC333.
E-cargocycles
The WG9 for (e)cargocycles was launched in January 2020. The past year was mostly spent on preparatory work with a view to determining the scope and categorization of (e)cargocycles. Another main issue was the preparation for the harmonization of the future standards under the Machinery, EMC and RoHS Directive. If the standards are eventually harmonized, then they provide presumption of conformity with the said Directives. As a result, they become a powerful tool to comply with the law.
The work has now been divided in 7 parts: Part 1 – Terms and definitions Part 2 – Lightweight single track carrier cycles – mechanical aspects Part 3 – Lightweight multi track carrier cycles – mechanical aspects Part 4 – Heavyweight multi track carrier cycles – mechanical aspects Part 5 – Electrical aspects carrier cycles Part 6 – Passenger transport carrier cycles Part 7 – Carrier cycles – Trailers
For the first 3 parts, an official vote will be launched soon to turn these parts into effective work items. When that happens, the clock will start ticking since deadlines will come into place for the different procedural stages. Initially, there will be 8 months, possibly extended to 12 months to develop a first draft for the 3 parts. This draft will then be translated and submitted to all national standardization institutes for comments. The last 4 parts have been accepted as preliminary work items. This means that the development of those parts can begin without the clock starting to tick. There still is a need for specific expertise and experience on the different aspects, as well as on testing methods in all these parts, especially in part 5, electrical aspects.
E-MTBs & EPACs
The draft standard for electric mountain bikes has been finalized for quite some time, but has not yet made it to publication. The current text is not fully in line with the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive yet. As a result, further amendments are required to achieve so-called harmonization under the Machinery Directive. A harmonized standard allows for presumption of conformity. This means that if your E-MTB complies with the standard, it will be presumed to comply with the Machinery Directive, which is a legal requirement.
As for the EN 15194:2017, here too the Machinery Directive is at the root of a number of problems. Two formal objections have been filed against the harmonization of the standard under the Machinery Directive. One objection concerns the battery requirements, which are allegedly insufficient to guarantee a safe battery on EPACs. The second objection concerns the lack of a vibration test, required by the Machinery Directive for EPACs for professional use. WG5 is starting up the necessary amendments to accommodate the objections and safeguard the harmonization of EN 15194:2017 under the Machinery Directive.
For further information on standardization or on how to become involved in standardization, please contact LEVA-EU manager, Annick Roetynck, annick@leva-eu.com, tel. +32 9 233 60 05
Comments Off on Launch of the SME Compatibility Test for Standards
In October, SBS has launched the SME Compatibility Test for Standards.
This online test, accessible from the SBS website, can be used by any standard maker who wishes to assess the SME-compatibility of a standard. The test is the starting point for possible improvements to a standard if it appears to be unsuited to smaller businesses. Try it out to test a standard! Do you want to know more about the test? Watch the 10-10 webinar organised together with CEN and CENELEC on the participation of SMEs in standardisation.
Comments Off on ISO/TS4210-10:2020 is NOT a standard
ISO has published ISO/TS 4210-10:2020. This document is not a standard but a technical specification with safety requirements for electrically power assisted cycles (EPACs).
WG15 of ISO TC149/SC1 had been working on a draft standard for EPACs for a number of years. The idea was to come to an international standard that could potentially replace EN 15194, which is only valid in the EU.
The draft text for the future ISO standard was to a very large extent based on EN 15194. However, it becomes increasingly apparent that the quality of the electrical part of the EN 15194 is poor. CEN TC333 is currently dealing with a number of national objections against the standard for that reason.
Another issue of the draft ISO-standard for EPACs was the fact that it had too many requirements, which did not result from safety considerations and which created regulatory bottlenecks for innovation and technological development.
LEVA-EU is working in the ISO WG15. For all the above reasons, together with a significant number of other experts, we have rejected the draft text for the standard twice. ISO procedures did not allow for a third vote on the standard. That is why ISO has now published the text as a Technical Specification (TS). According to ISO: “A Technical Specification addresses work still under technical development, or where it is believed that there will be a future, but not immediate, possibility of agreement on an International Standard.”
All this changes nothing to the status of EN 15194:2017, this is still the European standard for EPACs, harmonised under the Machinery Directive.
For further details, please contact Annick Roetynck, tel. +32 9 233 60 05, email annick@leva-eu.com.
Comments Off on LEVA-EU Supports SBS Call on UK to keep EU standards after Brexit
Brussels, 14 September 2020 – As talks between the UK and the EU reach a decisive point, Small Business Standards (SBS), the association representing European Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in standardisation, has published a position paper stressing the importance of standardisation and conformity assessment in relation to trade and the future UK-EU relationship. LEVA-EU fully supports SBS’s on the UK.
Standards and conformity assessment procedures play an essential role in trade. They can facilitate market access by reducing trade barriers and transaction costs, or in the case of diverging standards and conformity assessment procedures, create technical obstacles and impose additional testing and certification. Standardisation and conformity assessment are thus key elements that need to be carefully addressed in the future UK-EU relationship.
Today 95% of British standards are identical to the international and European ones. If the UK were to depart from the European standardisation system and develop its own solutions, it would be particularly costly for SMEs across both sides of the channel. Standards are widely used by SMEs to assess, test, trade and produce compatible products within tightly integrated value chains.
According to the position paper published by SBS, future cooperation on standardisation between the UK and the EU should be based on the key principles of European legislation including the transparency of processes, facilitation of stakeholder participation, access to information and draft standards. The UK should also keep its commitment to the single standard model whereby one single standard is in use across the EU and the UK on any given issue.
The mutual acceptance of test results and certificates is also important for SMEs for which paying twice for the same test can be prohibitive. Mutual recognition should be based on accreditation and relevant international standards. The position paper also highlights the need to keep a level playing field to prevent the creation of backdoors to import goods from third countries into the EU.
The position paper can be consulted through the following link.
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