Standards are absolutely crucial for industry because compliance with them demonstrates that market access requirements have been met and provides an objective measure for the comparison of product features.

These days, standards are being increasingly used as a means for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with the law, especially law that seeks to provide a level playing field across Europe.  Where this applies, the legislation only outlines ‘essential requirements’; perhaps less than a page of text  while the main standards are used to fill in the detail and typically run into hundreds of pages.  Standards can be changed relatively quickly. So you need a reliable flow of information in this area.

Standards are written by committees representing a wide range of interests, typically including trade associations, manufacturers, test houses, government bodies and consumer groups.  These committees exist at the national level (BSI in the case of the UK), and at  European  and international levels.  These days, most standards are written internationally (i.e. they apply world-wide) or perhaps regionally (e.g. they apply throughout the EU), although some purely national standards remain.

AMDEA is represented at standards committees (national, European and International) by its own staff, guided by its Members so that the input provided is both technically accurate and commercially aware.

By being involved with, or informed about, the creation and maintenance of standards our members are able to avoid the last-minute panics that  befall less well informed companies.