New Standardisation Regulation: Standards are about SME competitiveness, not just compliance
SBS, SMEunited and EBC raise concerns that the new proposal for a Standardisation Regulation risks reducing the role of SMEs in standardisation to supporting EU legislation, overlooking the strategic value of standards for SME competitiveness and growth.
”We must reiterate the importance and tangibly support the economic impact of standards as a tool for competitiveness and growth for SMEs, beyond just compliance with EU legislation and policy objectives”, stated SBS President Philip van Nieuwenhuizen.
The three organisations remind the strategic impact of standards for SMEs and call on the co-legislators to recognise the business case for SMEs participation in standardisation. While not fully fleshed out in terms of possible implementation, the proposal seems to limit the scope, relevance and impact of European SME stakeholder representatives to “standardisation activities in support of Union legislation (…) in the development of requested standards and standardisation deliverables”. In this sense, it is paramount to maintain the financing for functioning of Annex II stakeholder organisations and participation of SMEs experts in the development of European and international standards.
Read the press release below.
SBS Press release on New Standardisation Regulation in Agence Europe.
