CEN - The European Committee for Standardization
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) contributes to the objectives of the European Union and European Economic Area with voluntary technical standards that promote free trade, worker and consumer safety, network interoperability, environmental protection, and research development.
About CEN
CEN (The European Committee for Standardization) is an organization that develops and publishes European standards. These standards are mandatory for implementation by national standards bodies in all EU and EFTA member countries.
Key Functions:
- Develops voluntary technical standards
- Promotes free trade across Europe
- Ensures worker and consumer safety
- Facilitates network interoperability
- Supports environmental protection
- Supports research and development programs
- Facilitates public procurement
Standard Implementation:
When a European standard is published by a national standards body, it receives a national reference prefix (e.g., BS for British Standards, DIN for German standards) while maintaining the original EN number and identical technical requirements.