The UNECE provides a forum for Governments to enlarge their cooperation
on standardization and regulatory policies and to associate non-governmental
organizations more effectively with the establishment of internationally-accepted
standards, good regulatory and conformity assessment practices. The recommendations
of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies
(WP.6) have been widely implemented by UNECE member governments, industry
and international organizations. Since 1970, 13 recommendations
have been adopted or revised. The most recent recommendation is on harmonization
of mandatory technical regulations (“International Model for Technical
Harmonization”). The Working Party's "UNECE Standardization
List" indicates areas where governments consider it necessary
to issue regulations and where the lack of harmonized standards may place
obstacles in the way of industrial development and cooperation or create
technical barriers to trade. International standardizing organizations
use the list in planning their own activities. Among international organizations
with which the UNECE cooperates closely in standardization are the International
Standardization Organization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology
(OIML).
Standardization policies, conformity assessment and harmonization
of regulations, while of global impact and importance, are particularly
topical subjects for the countries of central and eastern Europe in
their transition to market economies. The UNECE has organized several
workshops/conferences at the request of these countries to give national
experts and external specialists the opportunity to propose solutions
to specific problems in these fields.
The Working Party has also established an Advisory Group on Market
Surveillance (“MARS Group”) to elaborate “good practices” in
the area of market surveillance and an ad hoc team of specialists on
STandardization And Regulatory Techniques ("START" Team)
to examine the relationship between international standardization and
technical regulations. As a result, the “START Team” has
developed an “International Model” aimed at creating a
mechanism to:
- Facilitate and accelerate the harmonization of technical regulations;
- Increase implementation and use at global level of international
standards by making a reference to them, when appropriate, in technical
regulations;
- Further reduce barriers to trade that arise from
divergent technical rules, and means of determining compliance
with them, at the regional and national levels.
Recommendations to UNECE Governments on Standardization Policies
A. Further developments in international cooperation on technical
harmonization and standardization policies (first version adopted in
1970, amended in 1995)
B. Coordination of standardization activities (first version adopted
in 1970, slightly amended in 1988 and again in 1995)
C. International harmonization of standards and technical regulations
(new version adopted in 1995, replacing previous texts adopted in 1980
and 1970)
D. Reference to standards (first version adopted in 1974, amended
in 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1995)
E. Treatment of imported products, processes and services (first
version adopted in 1970)
F. Creation and promotion of international agreements on conformity
assessment (first version adopted in 1980, revised in 1988)
G. Acceptance of conformity assessment results (first version adopted
in 1988)
H. Presentation of UNECE recommended standards and harmonized technical
regulations
I. Methodological studies and education (first version adopted in
1970)
J. Definitions (amended in 1997 and 2006)
K. Metrological assurance of testing
L. International Model for Technical Harmonization (adopted in 2001)
M. Use of market surveillance infrastructure as a complimentary means
to protect consumers and users against counterfeit goods (to be adopted
in 2007)
UNECE Standardization List
At regular (four year) intervals the Working Party on Regulatory
Cooperation and Standardization Policies prepares a List of Sectors
which are of interest to the UNECE member Governments and the broader
Mediterranean basin and beyond, with a view to providing regular guidance
for a programme of work for international standardization. The purpose
of the UNECE List of Sectors requiring Standardization is to enable
the Working Party to promote substantial participation by Governments
in the activities concerning implementation of international standards
and sales on the national level, and in the activities of the competent
bodies entrusted with the standardization projects contained in the
List, to encourage rationalization and to avoid duplication of work.
The standardization bodies mentioned in the List will be invited to
provide the UNECE on a regular basis with information on the work in
progress and the results obtained concerning the projects in the List.
In 2005, the Working Party decided to change the scope and format of
the List to include in its future revision (“ECE Standardization
and Regulatory List”) regulatory areas and product sectors where
member countries see the need for a transnational dialogue on regulatory
convergence matters.
WP6 Website