Your questions about the world of standards and standardization

Definition: standard

The term "standard" has its roots in the Latin word norma, which originally meant "square" or "rule." A standard is a shared reference framework that establishes recognized characteristics, criteria, or practices in a given field. It is much more than a simple recommendation: it is a common language that enables 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 exchanges and guarantee an expected level of performance.

This consensual approach distinguishes standards from other types of rules: they are developed by the professionals themselves rather than being imposed from outside.

What is a standard?

A standard is essentially a reference document that 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, standards provide you with objective criteria for evaluating quality and performance. They avoid subjective value judgments by proposing standardized evaluation

methods. The areas of application cover three main

• categories: Product specifications: dimensions, resistance, 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, a 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 are 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 everyone's daily life.

How is a standard developed?

A standard is a collectively co-produced tool that is applied on a voluntary basis. Market players propose its creation, develop it by consensus within a dedicated working group (standardization committees),

1. validate it, and apply it. Manufacturers, consumers, NGO representatives, and public authorities propose a new voluntary standard or the revision of an existing
2. voluntary standard. The proposal is reviewed by AFNOR in consultation with
3. industry stakeholders. If the proposal is approved, a standards committee is formed with interested industry stakeholders. The draft
4. is submitted to a public inquiry open to all. The
5. standardization committee analyzes the comments and improves the project.
6. 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?

Regulation is the responsibility of public authorities. It is the expression of a law or regulation, and its 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 regulation 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 ensure the safety and health of people or the protection of the environment (obligation of results); the latter is responsible for describing the solutions for achieving the objectives set (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, laying solid foundations 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 the sharing and development of new products and services. They thus act as an accelerator for innovation, promoting its commercialization in all economic sectors. In

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

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

Compliance with voluntary standards can be declared by the supplier under their sole responsibility. They commit to the quality of their 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 is based 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.

At the 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 of international 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 a standardization committee, either existing or to be created, bringing together all parties interested in the subject. The draft is dealt with at national, European, or global level, as appropriate.

Once finalized and approved by the committee, the draft enters the validation phase. This is a public consultation (open to all) known as a public inquiry. The text of the standard is then enriched by the committee based on the comments received before taking on a definitive form to be submitted for validation by the standardization institute: this is called approval.

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

Which standards are mandatory?

Standards are designed to meet market needs and are, in principle, voluntary. However, some 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 at 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 satisfying the requirements of the text; by means
• of a regulatory text conferring on compliance with all or part of a standard a presumption of conformity with the regulations. 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.

What is the relationship between standards and patents?

Standards are the result of an open process aimed at serving the public interest, orchestrated by a duly authorized body (in France, AFNOR or a delegated standards office) on behalf of a group of stakeholders, while patents are the result of a closed process aimed at protecting intellectual property, initiated by an individual, institute, or 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 process of opening up markets to increase consumer safety and the interoperability of products and services, while patents are part of a process of protecting competitive advantages, effectively granting a monopoly to the holder.

Between the two lies the standard, the result of technical specifications defined by a pioneering manufacturer or a market leader, 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: these are presumed 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 that participate in the development of these standards, such as AFNOR in France, also sell them.

Are voluntary standards free? Voluntary standards

are paid documents protected by copyright. They are value-added documents developed by an impartial body with the input of all stakeholders, following a recognized and controlled iterative process, and updated as needed. For a company, purchasing a voluntary standard is always worthwhile. 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 with 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), mandatory standards can be consulted free of charge on our website and on the Légifrance website. Standards are made mandatory by decision of the Minister of Industry and the relevant minister(s). Despite this

specific status, the work involved in developing them is funded in the same way as any other voluntary standard. 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 presumed 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 that participate in the development of these standards, such as AFNOR in France, also sell them.

French standard, NF standard, what are they?

Ninety percent 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 applied 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 interest 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 join the existing committee directly to 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 player who joins a standardization committee participates directly in the production of standards that will shape the market of tomorrow.

How do voluntary standards serve as a tool for

the economy? Voluntary standards help to "boost" the French economy. They serve as reference tools to clarify and harmonize practices and define a level 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 BIPE study for AFNOR shows that voluntary standards account for €15 billion in French production. Conducted in 2016, this study was repeated 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 operate in a context of serenity and performance. In addition, they provide a common language, 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?

A 2016 study by BIPE for AFNOR shows that 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 with 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 for their sector.

Similarly, the share of their business generated by exports is higher: the export rate of these companies is three points higher than the average rate observed in their sector. In other words, standards are a passport to better sales outside one's borders.

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

in France has positive repercussions at the international level, whether directly for the development of the French economy and businesses, or indirectly for the benefit of all. 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 the 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 make it possible 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 strong 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 further strengthening its commitment in sectors where it has a strong presence. This is particularly the case in the management and services, transport and logistics, and water and energy sectors.

What does approval 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 in 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 notion 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 the 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) being 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 we talk 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, then today in a PDF or XML file, the standard is set to become a "fully digital" object 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) is 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 marked "NF EN ISO 9001" indicates that it has been validated by AFNOR as a French standard. The organization also conducts public consultations, allowing all economic actors to contribute to draft standards before their final publication.