About CENELEC

CENELEC in Figures

CENELEC ended up the year 2023 with a total figure of 7691 active Standards.
During the year 2023, 445 standards were published.

* These figures include amendments.

Total number of active CENELEC Deliverables at the year-end 2023: 

Note: The total number of overall standards figures at the end of 2023 does not result from summing up the overall standards figures of 2022 (7733) to the total output of standards of 2023 (445). This is due to the fact that CENELEC only counts as standards those that are currently active and stops counting those that have been withdrawn.

CENELEC Standards ratified, awaiting publication: 35

                                              
The overall figures only take into account active Standards (Standards that are currently valid) and stops counting those that have been withdrawn.

Links with the IEC
In a world like today's where markets become global and products are being sold worldwide, CENELEC makes sure that the majority of its Standards are identical to the Standards developed by the IEC, the International Electrotechnical Commission. This is achieved thanks to the intense cooperation between both organizations, laid down in the Frankfurt Agreement, and through the participation of CENELEC members directly in IEC work.

The added value for the manufacturer in applying CENELEC Standards emanating from the IEC is that, besides granting access to all 34 CENELEC countries, these same Standards are also recognized worldwide thanks to the work of the IEC. Sometimes CENELEC adopts IEC Standards that are slightly modified with some specifications added for the European marketplace. Normally, these common modifications include tougher guarantees of health and safety to be applied for the European market.

In overall terms, 81% of CENELEC deliverables are identical to or based upon IEC’s. Next charts clearly show these trends.

Level of equivalence between IEC and CENELEC deliverables published in 2023.

Figures take into account all documents (excluding Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio.

Level of equivalence between IEC and CENELEC for the overall deliverables at the end of 2023.

Figures take into account all documents (excluding Amendments, Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio (for this table 'portfolio' is based on deliverables as they can be implemented, rather than as individual work items. This approach better reflects the degree of equivalence of the final deliverable).

Links with the European Commission and EFTA
To provide a means for demonstrating conformity with European Directives, CENELEC and the European Commission have reached agreements for CENELEC to develop appropriate Standards - Harmonized Standards -over a wide range of electrotechnical areas.

Total CENELEC deliverables offered for citation at the end of 2023.

* These figures include amendments.
Figures take into account all documents (excluding Corrigenda and Guides) in the CENELEC portfolio.

Harmonized Standards are those that fulfill the requirements set by New Approach Directives. These Standards are unique in the sense that they provide presumption of conformity with the European legal framework. In other words, and this is a specific feature of the European Standardization System, Harmonized Standards help manufacturers comply with the applicable law.

In addition to the New Approach, CENELEC also prepares standards in support of the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), Waste from electrical and electronic equipment directive (WEEE).

To assist manufacturers and other interested parties, the Official Journal of the European Communities provides a list of Harmonised Standards giving presumption of conformity for each Directive.

More information about the New Approach Directives and the harmonization process can be found on the European Commission DG Growth website as well as a dedicated New Approach website.

Technical Bodies and Manpower

CENELEC standardization work is carried out in different Technical Bodies in which a wide range of interests is represented.