Your questions about the world of standards and standardization

Definition: standard

The term "norm" has its roots in Latin. norma , which originally meant "square" or "ruler." A standard constitutes a shared reference framework which establishes recognized characteristics, criteria, or practices in a given field. It is much more than a simple recommendation: it is a common language that allows players in a sector to understand each other and collaborate effectively.

Contrary to popular belief, a standard is not limited to technical aspects. It can relate to product quality, working methods, manufacturing processes, or even services. Its primary purpose is to harmonize practices in order to facilitate trade and ensure an expected level of performance .

This consensus-based approach distinguishes the standard from other types of rules: it comes from the professionals themselves rather than being imposed from outside.

What is a standard?

A standard basically represents a reference document which codifies best practices in a specific field. It translates the collective expertise of professionals into concrete and measurable specifications. Unlike rules of conduct imposed by authority, it arises from voluntary agreement among experts.

Its primary function is to establish a common technical language. Whether you manufacture electronic components or design digital services, the standard provides you with objective criteria for evaluating quality and performance. It avoids subjective value judgments by offering standardized evaluation methods.

The areas of application cover three main categories:

Product specifications : dimensions, strength, composition
Test methods : test and measurement protocols
Management systems : organization of quality processes

This methodical approach enables companies to demonstrate their compliance with market expectations while facilitating international trade.

What is a voluntary standard?

Launched at the initiative of market players, the voluntary standard is a reference framework that aims to provide guidelines and technical or qualitative requirements for products, services, or practices that serve the public interest. It is the result of a consensual co-production between professionals and users who were involved in its development. Any organization may or may not use it and refer to it; this is why the standard is called voluntary.

What is the purpose of a voluntary standard?

Voluntary standards are based on consensus among all stakeholders and, in this sense, they bring everyone together: economic actors and consumers, professionals and users, to clarify and harmonize practices and define the level of quality, safety, compatibility, and minimal environmental impact of products, services, and practices. As a result, they facilitate both domestic and international trade, help to better structure the economy, and simplify everyday life for everyone.

How is a standard developed?

The standard is a collectively co-produced tool that is voluntarily applied. Market players propose its creation, develop it by consensus within a dedicated working group (standardization committees), validate it, and apply it.

Manufacturers, consumers, representatives of NGOs, or public authorities propose a new topic for a voluntary standard or the revision of an existing voluntary standard.
The proposal is being reviewed by AFNOR in consultation with industry stakeholders.
If the proposal is approved, a standardization committee will be set up with the relevant stakeholders in the sector.
The project is subject to a public inquiry open to all.
The standardization committee analyzes the comments and improves the draft.
The draft standard or revision is validated and then published.

What can be standardized?

The format of an A4 sheet of paper, drinking water, a hard hat, the customer service of a large company, or consumer reviews on the internet... In our daily lives, just about anything can be subject to a voluntary standard. Perfection does not exist, but by optimizing the characterization, quality, and performance of a product or service, a process, a measurement and testing method, an organizational system, the dissemination of a common language, etc., we can get closer to it. Everything that is standardized is subject to a requirement for continuous improvement and progress for the benefit of all.

What is the difference between standardization and regulation?

Regulations are the responsibility of public authorities. They are the expression of a law or regulation and their application is mandatory. In contrast, standards are voluntary. Compliance with them is not an obligation. They reflect companies' commitment to meeting a recognized and approved level of quality and safety. Voluntary standards can support regulations by being cited as reference documents. Only 1% of standards are mandatory.
At the European level, the New Approach, a principle established in May 1985, formalizes the relationship between regulation and standardization by dividing the roles between the two: the former is responsible for setting objectives to be achieved to ensure the safety and health of people or the protection of the environment (obligation of results); the latter is responsible for describing the solutions that will enable the objectives to be achieved (recommendation of means). More information: The new approach – France Standardization

Do voluntary standards promote innovation?

Like patents, voluntary standards are a form of codification of knowledge. Upstream, they provide reference methods and results, forming a solid foundation and saving time in the innovation process. Downstream, they facilitate the dissemination of cutting-edge ideas and techniques.

In other words, by providing rules for the market, they create conditions conducive to sharing and developing new products and services. They thus act as an accelerator for innovation, promoting its commercialization in all areas of the economy.

In addition, participating in voluntary standardization allows you to stay informed and anticipate developments in a given sector or subject, as well as to promote your ideas.

How can you prove that your product or service complies with voluntary reference standards?

Compliance with voluntary standards may be declared by the supplier under its sole responsibility. It undertakes to ensure the quality of its production, services, or organization. The supplier or customer may also request that this compliance be certified by a competent third party (laboratory, inspection body, certification body, etc.). The third party is responsible for verifying that the product, service, or system in question meets the requirements of the standard.

How is standardization organized in France and around the world?

The French standardization system relies on a network of volunteers from all sectors of activity who are involved in standardization committees. Their role is to contribute their expertise and knowledge of each subject in order to develop or revise standards in a relevant manner and to ensure that the standards are well-founded and well-constructed. The standardization committees are run by sectoral standardization offices or by AFNOR, which also coordinates the overall process.

On an international level, AFNOR defends French interests as a member of European (CEN and CENELEC) and international (ISO and IEC) standardization associations. Its influence is both technical and strategic, which is essential for French companies since 90% of the standards applied in France are international in origin.

How is a voluntary standard developed?

Any economic actor can propose a draft standard, which is another aspect of its voluntary nature. This proposal is then submitted to an existing or newly created standardization committee, bringing together all parties interested in the subject. The draft is dealt with at the national, European, or global level, as appropriate.

Once finalized and approved by the commission, the project moves on to the validation phase. This is the public consultation (open to all) known as the public inquiry. The text of the standard is then enriched by the commission based on the comments received before becoming final and submitted to the standards institute for approval: this is known as certification.

The entire process takes between one and three years. Voluntary standards are then reviewed periodically (at least every five years).

Which standards are mandatory?

Standards are designed to meet market needs and are, in principle, voluntary. However, a number of them may contribute to the enforcement of technical regulations and even become mandatory. This is the case for 1% of standards, or 514 texts by the end of 2022. Where applicable, the administration refers to them in three ways:

in a regulatory text, published in the Official Journal, as the sole means of complying with the requirements of the text;
by means of a regulatory text conferring compliance with all or part of a standard a presumption of compliance with the regulation. In this case, there are other means of meeting regulatory requirements, which the company may or may not choose to use;
through technical regulations that refer to standards in an indicative manner.

Access the list of mandatory standards

What is the relationship between standards and patents?

The standard is the result of an open process aimed at the public interest, orchestrated by a duly authorized body (in France, AFNOR or a delegated standardization office) on behalf of a group of stakeholders, while the patent is the result of a closed process aimed at intellectual property, initiated by an individual, an institute, or a company acting on its own behalf with the sole aim of protecting its own interests.

Nevertheless, standards and patents pursue a common goal: to promote the development and dissemination of innovation. Standards are part of a strategy to open up markets, increase consumer safety, and improve the interoperability of products and services. Patents, on the other hand, are part of a strategy to protect competitive advantages, effectively granting the holder a monopoly.

Between the two lies the standard, the result of technical specifications defined by a pioneering manufacturer or one with a dominant position in a market, a professional association, or a consortium of manufacturers.

The question of whether voluntary standards should be paid for also arises from the confusion that is often made with regulatory standards: the latter are assumed to be free, as they are financed by public funds, i.e., contributions from everyone. Voluntary standardization has the advantage of placing the cost of voluntary standards exclusively on those who have expressed a need for them.

France is not the only country to sell voluntary standards; all countries involved in developing these standards, such as AFNOR in France, also sell them.

Are voluntary standards free of charge?

Voluntary standards are paid documents protected by copyright. They are value-added documents developed by an impartial body with the input of all stakeholders, using a recognized and controlled iterative process, and updated as needed. For a company, purchasing a voluntary standard is always worthwhile.

Indeed, if a company claims that a price of €80, for example, is too high to purchase a voluntary standard, it should be aware that it would cost much more to directly consult interested parties on the basis of its technical specifications, build consensus, and keep the document up to date.

However, as provided for in the decree of June 16, 2009, amended by decree No. 2021-1473 of November 10, 2021 (Art. 17), The mandatory standards are available for free on our website. and on the Légifrance website. Standards are made mandatory by decision of the Minister responsible for industry and the minister(s) concerned.

Despite this specific status, the financing of the work from which they originate is identical to any other voluntary standard.

France is not the only country to sell voluntary standards; all countries involved in developing these standards, such as AFNOR in France, also sell them.

French standard, NF standard, what are they?

90% of voluntary standards are European or international in origin. They can be recognized by their prefix: ISO for standards developed under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization (where AFNOR represents France), EN for those of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).

Following the principle of Russian dolls, an international standard can be adopted in Europe and, by extension, in a national collection. Its wording is then enriched with the corresponding prefixes, in ascending order of geographical scope: NF ISO, NF EN ISO.

When a standard only has the prefix NF, this means that it is only applicable and enforced in France, and that it is sold in the AFNOR collection. However, it may one day take on other prefixes if AFNOR brings the subject to the international stage to make the text a reference beyond national borders, in the interests of the markets. This is the case for many voluntary standards, such as those relating to electronic cigarettes.

How can you participate in standardization?

Anyone can participate in the development of a standard. All you need to do is submit a request to AFNOR Standardization or the sectoral standardization office, if one exists. If discussions about your product or service are already underway, you will be able to join the existing committee directly and contribute to the work in progress. If your field is new, AFNOR Standardization will bring together all interested stakeholders to confirm that there is sufficient interest and, if so, create a new committee.

The committees' activities are managed in the form of projects requiring technical input from participants and their financial contribution to cover facilitation and logistics costs. An economic actor who joins a standardization committee participates directly in the production of standards that will shape the market of tomorrow.

What financial assistance am I eligible for to enroll in a teacher training program?

Access to AFNOR’s standards committees and sector-specific standards bodies is subject to a specific fee schedule, available here. The Decree of February 13, 2026 amends the rules governing exemptions from financial contributions specific to SMEs to participate in standardization work, exempting only micro-enterprises (as defined in Article 3 of Decree No. 2008-1354 of December 18, 2008) that are no more than 25% owned by a group with more than 250 employees and that carry out in the area where the work is being carried out relevant standardization bodies.

In addition, the law provides that standardization expenses may be eligible for research tax credit (CIR) , as expenses for scientific and technical research. For more information, please visit the DGE Financial Aid Simulator .

How are voluntary standards a tool for the economy?

Voluntary standards help to "raise the bar" for the French economy. They serve as reference tools to clarify and harmonize practices and define standards of quality, safety, compatibility, and minimal environmental impact for products, services, and practices. In this sense, they help lay the foundations for the economy and society of tomorrow.

A study by BIPE for AFNOR shows that voluntary standards account for €15 billion in French production. Conducted in 2016, this study was replicated in 2017 and 2019 in the mechanical engineering and electrical engineering sectors, with the same positive conclusions. They also promote the adoption and dissemination of approved and recognized best practices, enabling the various economic players to evolve in a context of serenity and performance. In addition, they provide a common language, thus facilitating both national and international exchanges.

Finally, voluntary standards offer unique and indispensable support for promoting progress and innovation and enhancing France's international standing.

Getting involved in standardization: a waste of time or a growth booster?

One BIPE study for AFNOR demonstrated this in 2016: for a company, participating in standardization and using standards provides a concrete and visible benefit on the income statement. By cross-referencing attendance rates at standardization committees and economic data, we can see that companies involved in the development of standards have a turnover growth rate that is 20% higher than the average observed in their sector.

Similarly, the proportion of their business conducted through exports is higher: the export rate of these companies is three points higher than the average rate observed in their sector. In other words, the standard is a passport to better sales outside national borders.

Does involvement in voluntary standardization in France have an international impact?

When we engage in voluntary standardization in France, it has positive repercussions at the international level. Whether for the development of the French economy and businesses, directly, or for the benefit of all, indirectly. These repercussions are due to two factors: on the one hand, the influence of AFNOR in international organizations (CEN, CENELEC, ISO, and IEC) and, on the other hand, the quality of the French industrial fabric.

In response to the growth in trade and the internationalization of the economy, AFNOR has developed one of the first standardization networks. It therefore offers France a leading role in the governance of international organizations. It is a permanent member of the CEN and CENELEC councils (at European level) as well as ISO and IEC (at international level). These bodies are the main decision-making bodies of these structures. This strong presence enables AFNOR and its stakeholders to influence the standardization work and strategies of these bodies and to effectively defend French interests.
According to the international standardization barometer, which can be downloaded here, France ranks second in Europe (CEN/CENELEC) and third internationally (ISO/IEC).

Chairing or leading a European or international committee is a major asset for France. These responsibilities promote common practices validated in France, facilitate relations with international partners, and enable France to anticipate proposals from other countries and strengthen the competitiveness of companies on issues related to the sector concerned.

France is also fortunate to have a highly efficient industrial base. This asset enables AFNOR to promote the positions of France's economic players and thus position them as a benchmark for the development of a given sector at the international level. France is even more committed to sectors where it has significant responsibilities. This is particularly true in the management and services, transport and logistics, and water and energy sectors.

What does certification mean in the field of standards?

In the field of voluntary standards, approval refers to a form of formalization of a standard, opening a period during which economic actors can claim to apply it. In practice, a country's standards institute validates and finalizes each standard by granting it approval. At AFNOR, for example, each new standard added to the collection is approved by the Director General, with a specific date, and described as such in the header. When the new standard replaces another, the approval confirms the removal of the previous version.

What is the difference between a norm and a standard?

Norm and standard are two terms that are often confused, probably because they are translated into English using the same word: "standard." In reality, they cover different concepts. A voluntary norm is a reference framework developed by economic actors in a specific sector, providing guidelines and technical or qualitative requirements for products, services, or practices that serve the public interest. All stakeholders are represented. A standard, on the other hand, refers to recommendations or specifications proposed by a small group of players, with a private and closed dimension, undermining the concept of the general interest. There are many examples of this in the field of IT equipment. A standard can become a norm when it is opened up to the wider public.

What is the harmonized standards regime?

Voluntary standards are said to be harmonized when they have been developed at the request of the European Commission to implement a regulation (European directive or regulation). They stem from the European Union's new legislative framework of 2008, which consists of using standards to harmonize the technical rules for the free movement of products within the European single market, a framework that modernizes the New Approach principle established in 1985. When cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, harmonized standards give presumption of conformity: compliance with these standards proves compliance with European legislation.

As such, access to these standards is facilitated. In France, AFNOR has applied this measure to the NF version of the standards concerned ( click here for the list ) and offers a text decryption and explanation service called " Harmonized Standards ".
It all starts with a request for standardization, which is submitted to European standardization organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI). If they accept it, they develop and approve the European standard, with each national member (AFNOR in France) required to adopt it identically as a national standard. This principle of systematic adoption by all national members applies to all European standards, whether harmonized or not. This process is governed by European Regulation No. 1025/2012 of October 25, 2012, highlighted by the European standardization strategy made public in February 2022.

What does "smart standards" mean when talking about the standards of tomorrow?

The term "smart standards" refers to the digital transformation of voluntary standards and standardization. Once embodied in a paper document, and now in a PDF or XML file, standards are set to become fully digital objects that can be incorporated into users' software and information systems, with the aim of being read by machines. To find out more and learn how the project is being rolled out at AFNOR, click here .

What is the AFNOR standard?

The French Standardization Association (AFNOR) refers to the official French body responsible for creating, validating, and disseminating national standards since 1926. This association, recognized as being of public utility, coordinates the entire French standardization system under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry.

AFNOR represents France in international organizations such as ISO and CEN. Its role is to identify standardization needs, mobilize stakeholders, and organize the standardization committees that draft the texts.

In practical terms, AFNOR approves each new French standard by assigning it an official reference. For example, a standard bearing the designation "NF EN ISO 9001" indicates that it has been validated by AFNOR as a French standard. The organization also runs the public consultations enabling all economic stakeholders to contribute to draft standards before their final publication.