Olivier Janin

The European Materials Handling Federation (FEM) joined with 15 other European industry associations to form INGRESS, the Industry Group on European Standardisation Strategy on March 24.

According to FEM secretary general Olivier Janin, harmonised standards are "the backbone" of a successful internal market for industrial products. "Yet, their close link with European legislation does not deprive them of the necessary market relevance. INGRESS is an excellent initiative to ensure that standardisation remains a market-driven activity."

He tells Forkliftaction.com News that the initiative reflects the European industry's desire to ensure it is fully involved in European standardisation policy.

According to FEM, European manufacturers find themselves in a difficult position with respect to European standards. For some time now, industry has been requesting inclusion as an observer on the regulatory Committee on Standards (CoS).

The group's first objective will be to gain observer status in the CoS set up under Regulation EU 1025/2012 to represent the interests of the main contributors and users of standards.

CoS is the body that guides implementation of European Commission standardisation requests. "This means that when the European Commission requests a European standardisation organisation to develop a standard, such a request must be first validated by the committee," Janin explains.

These decisions impact on European companies using harmonised standards to show compliance with EU product legislation.

According to FEM, standards work is undertaken mainly by industry experts who contribute their expertise free of charge to develop European standards - equating to about 95% of standards development costs.

"One of the basic purposes of standards is to save costs since they avoid the proliferation of individual and heterogeneous initiatives. However, a pre-condition to achieve this objective is that the process be market-driven so that standards are market-relevant. This is why industry is - and must remain - at its core," Janin says.

FEM maintains that industry should be included as one of the accepted 'observers' that Regulation EU 1025/2012 on European Standardisation grants to stakeholders that include European standardisation organisations, and European organisations representing small and medium enterprises, consumers, environmental interests and social interests.

Janin expects more industry associations to join INGRESS. "To be eligible, you must be an established and recognised European trade association representing European industry interests, with a clear interest in European standardisation activities and registered in the EU Transparency Register."