2.2.2 Formulation process of a harmonized standard
So-called technical committees and working groups below them, which recruit primarily from national standardization bodies and, in part, from employees of manufacturers in the area of machine construction and sensor systems, work on the creation of standards in the area of machine safety in the CEN and CENELEC standards organizations. An approval process is performed at the end of this work in which the members of the CEN, including Switzerland, can, according to a quota system, decide for or against the approval of a standard as a harmonized European standard.
A total of 29 states participate in this process. With the publication of a harmonized European safety standard in the EU Official Journal, the aptly-named presumption of conformity applies, i.e., by satisfying the protective objectives of this standard, it is assumed that conformity with the corresponding directive is ensured for this safety aspect.
Member State | Votes |
---|---|
France | 29 |
Germany | 29 |
Great Britain | 29 |
Italy | 29 |
Spain | 27 |
Poland | 27 |
Romania | 14 |
The Netherlands | 13 |
Greece | 12 |
Czech Republic | 12 |
Belgium | 12 |
Hungary | 12 |
Portugal | 12 |
Sweden | 10 |
Austria | 10 |
Switzerland* | 10 |
Bulgaria | 10 |
Slovakia | 7 |
Denmark | 7 |
Finland | 7 |
Norway* | 7 |
Ireland | 7 |
Lithuania | 7 |
Latvia | 4 |
Slovenia | 4 |
Estonia | 4 |
Cyprus | 4 |
Luxembourg | 4 |
Malta | 3 |
Iceland* | 3 |
*) EFTA States |
Table 2.2.2-1: Weighting of votes when voting on a harmonized EN standard
An EN standard is harmonized with a simple majority and at least 71% of the weighted votes.