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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Press release19 May 2021Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

New European Tourism Covid-19 Safety Seal available

CEN develops a label for COVID-19 health and safety in tourism establishments and services in time for the summer season.

European Tourism Covid-19 Safety Seal
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Today, the European Standardisation Organisation (CEN) published a European standardisation deliverable for COVID-19 health and safety protocols in tourism establishments and services, developed at the Commission's initiative. It complements CEN’s endorsement of a safety protocol developed at the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO).

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the tourism ecosystem, causing unprecedented drops in revenues and threatening millions of jobs. After strenuous lockdowns, citizens long for holidays but expressed concern about safety from COVID-19. The European Tourism COVID-19 Safety Seal comes in time for the summer season and can improve safety procedures in tourism businesses. This way, it can increase the trust of travellers and tourists, as well as residents and employees, fostering the EU's reputation as a quality tourism destination.

The CWA 5643 series is composed of two parts. First, the endorsement by CEN of the ISO PAS 5643 ‘Measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry’, which contains requirements and recommendations for various tourism enterprises and locations. It was developed in an international ISO working group, composed of representatives of tourism authorities, industry, academia and other experts.
Second, a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) ‘Guidelines and requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry – Part 2’ offers a dedicated European label and clarifies minimum requirements for a quality assurance mechanism. EU countries now have the opportunity to award the label, making use of various EU funding possibilities.

Stakeholders may use the protocol and the seal, improving their safety and reputation. The combined output of ISO and CEN offers full flexibility to tourism businesses: They can use the protocols of the ISO PAS 5643 only, or opt on that basis for labelling under the CWA, if and as provided for by national competent authorities.

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