Standardization in France

Identify needs

Each COS brings together the main decision-makers in the economic sector concerned, defines work priorities, and prepares French positions at the international level, with AFNOR representing France at CEN-Cenelec and ISO-IEC. The whole process is coordinated by the Standardization Coordination and Steering Committee (CCPN), which is responsible for preparing the French standardization strategy , to define the general objectives and priorities of standardization programs, and to ensure their consistency with national, European, and international policies.

Coordinate the development of standards

Standards are developed by standardization committees and coordinated, on behalf of AFNOR, by sectoral standardization offices (BNS) or by AFNOR itself in areas common to a large number of sectors and in sectors for which there is no approved BNS (electrotechnology, agri-food, services, etc.).

Approve and publish standards

AFNOR organizes a public consultation in French on each draft French, European, or international standard. Once the comments have been reviewed and the draft finalized, AFNOR approves the final version and adds it to the national catalog. Their approval as French standards is certified, depending on the level at which they were developed, by prefixes such as "NF ISO or NF IEC" (international standard for the general sector or the electrotechnology sector adopted in France), "NF EN ISO or NF EN IEC" (French standard of international origin for the general sector or the electrotechnology sector adopted in Europe and France), "NF EN" (French standard of European origin regardless of the sector) or "NF" (purely French standard). AFNOR publishes the standards and continuously ensures that the published standards remain relevant.

Promoting French interests at the European and international levels

With 90% of voluntary standards originating in Europe or internationally, AFNOR represents French positions at European and international levels. As such, AFNOR is the French member of CEN and ISO, as well as CENELEC and IEC through the French Electrotechnical Committee (CEF), which it hosts. Every year, AFNOR publishes an international barometer that provides an analysis of the distribution of responsibilities (based on the number of secretariats obtained by each country).

The life cycle of a standard

The creation of a standard takes anywhere from a few months to three years. Before being approved, the standard is submitted for public approval, regardless of whether or not the public contributed to its drafting. This is the public inquiry stage. Once published, any stakeholder may or may not refer to it.

As a living and evolving tool, each standard is reviewed and revised, if necessary, every five years, in a constant effort to improve and reflect best practices in the field.