The main aim of the Vademecum is to serve as a guide for
- Commission officials - to enable them to use European standardisation as a tool for the implementation of European policies and legislation
- EU countries - to help them to understand the Commission's European standardisation policy and the mechanisms of referring to European standards in European policies and legislation
- stakeholders - to gain a clear picture of the policies and processes of the Commission in this field
The publication of the Vademecum contributes to the transparency and accessibility of Commission policy on European standardisation.
- Standardisation requests (role, adoption and execution)
SWD(2015) 205 final of 27/10/2015, Vademecum on European standardisation in support of Union legislation and policies
- Part 1 - Role of the Commission's Standardisation requests to the European standardisation organisations (available in all EU languages, 249kB)
- Part 2 - Preparation and adoption of the Commission’s standardisation requests to the European standardisation organisations (available in DE/EN/FR, 303kB)
- Part 3 - Guidelines for the execution of standardisation requests (available in all EU languages, 155kB)
Follow-up of mandates (411kB) [Note: certain terminology, references and guidance contained in this document published in 2009 are outdated]
- Role and use of harmonised standards in harmonisation legislation for products
- 'Blue Guide' on the implementation of EU product rules (see points 4.1.2 and Annex VI)
- Regulatory use of standards
Related resources
- Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012
- General Guidelines for the Cooperation between CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and the European Commission and EFTA
- Directives and Regulations under the New Legislative Framework (NLF)
- References to harmonised standards and other European standards published in the OJEU
- Better Regulation 'Toolbox': The choice of policy instruments. See chapter 3.2: Technical standards