The Joint Initiative on Standardisation was launched as part of the Single Market Strategy of the European Commission. It represents a commitment to a coherent body of European Standards that, against a background of global challenges, will continue to contribute significantly to the growth of the economy and prosperity of the EU community. The Joint Initiative lists 15 actions that will help to implement the European Commission’s strategic goals for the single market. Action 4 aims at enabling national standardisation bodies (NSBs) in close cooperation with the competent public authorities to raise awareness for standardization as a tool to support public policy in their member states.

Standards are a tool for better and agile regulation. Where regulation concentrates on essential requirements for product safety, worker’s safety or environmental protection, standards specify the details that enable industry and other stakeholders to meet these requirements. This unburdens the regulator and makes best use of the expertise of thousands of experts in Europe. Standards also offer an instrument for policy areas like international trade, research and innovation, and digitization. 

The following case studies collected during the work of JIS Action 4 support this statement. NSBs and public authorities may use these examples to communicate the benefits of standardisation and the use of standards.