CEN Enquiry 

• To specify the processing and distribution of a draft for CEN Enquiry;
• To obtain and handle the national comments;
• To communicate the outcome of the Enquiry ballot and to prepare the final draft of the European Standard (FprEN).

The following procedure applies to the CEN and ECISS Technical Committees (TC), the TC Editing Committee, the CEN National Members, the CEN Consultants and the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC).

NOTE 1  For details on how to process a draft developed in cooperation with ISO (Vienna Agreement), see 'Guidelines for the implementation of the agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement)' and 'Guidance on the implications of the ISO Global Relevance policy for CEN standardization'.

NOTE 2  If a CEN Member is confronted with a situation where it has to implement an EN that is not compliant with the legislation of its country, it can request an A-deviation, i.e. a derogation from the mandatory implementation of those requirements in the EN which are in contradiction with national legislation. See GD – National regulations – Possible conflict with CEN work for more information.

NOTE 3  In some cases, a number of ENs are interrelated and should form a package with a common dow. More information on such a package can be found in Clause 2.2 of GD – Date of withdrawal. 

The three year timeframe for the development of European Standards - Rules and implementation system
(BT N 8140)

3.1  Once the TC Secretary and TC Chairperson have approved the finalised draft (prepared in accordance with the Internal regulations Part 3) (see Process – Drafting of European Standards), the TC Secretary sends it via E-Trans in the relevant reference language version to CCMC for processing in two electronic formats, an agreed revisable WORD file (use of the CEN STD template is obligatory) and a non-revisable PDF file, together with the completed electronic 'Transmission Notice' and separate figure files. AFNOR, BSI and DIN are automatically notified thereof.

Checklist for action

Transmission Notice

GD - Translation procedure
GD – Drafting of European Standards - Electronic preparation

3.2  CCMC checks that all the documentation and electronic files have been supplied, that the appropriate information has been provided on the 'Transmission Notice' and that the deliverable corresponds to the database records.

3.4  The relevant NSBs prepare the translations and return them via
E-Trans to CCMC within the specified timescales (normally 8 weeks).

NOTE  In the case of unavailable translations, the relevant NSBs will supply at least the translation of the titles.

3.5  On receipt of the translations or immediately after expiry of the time period, CCMC dispatches the prEN in the available language versions to the CEN National Members, the Associates, the Affiliates, the EC and EFTA Secretariat, the TC Chairperson, the TC Secretary, and, where applicable, the CEN Consultants in accordance with the 'Process - European Standards for citation in the Official Journal'. This is done via the Weekly Output file that is uploaded onto an electronic platform (FTP site) on a weekly basis.

CCMC ensures that a corresponding ballot is open on the E-balloting platform on Livelink.

NOTE  Late incoming translations to CCMC are circulated on the Weekly Output file at the next available opportunity.

3.6  The CEN National Members and, when applicable,  the CEN Consultants submit their vote and their comments, prepared using the 'CEN Commenting Form' on the E-balloting platform on Livelink within the prescribed five-month period.

NOTE  Second Enquiry drafts are submitted to a 2, 3 or 4-month balloting timeframe.

CEN Commenting Form

3.7   The E-balloting system automatically closes the ballot once the deadline is reached. One day after the deadline of the CEN Enquiry, CCMC establishes the voting report, compiles the comments received and dispatches both the voting report and the comments via E-Trans to the CEN National Members, the Associates, the Affiliates, the EC and EFTA Secretariat, the TC Chairperson and TC Secretary.

The voting report and the comments are also included on the Weekly Output file that is uploaded onto an electronic platform (FTP site) on a weekly basis.

3.8  The TC Secretary circulates, within a two month period,  the Enquiry voting report and the compiled comments to the TC members.

3.9  Each comment resulting from the CEN Enquiry, irrespective of whether a positive overall opinion on the draft has been given by the individual countries, is analysed and evaluated, and a decision is taken. This may be carried out during a 'comments resolution meeting' of the TC or the TC can decide to delegate the resolution of comments to the level of a Subcommittee (SC), a Working Group (WG) or an ad-hoc group.

3.10  The TC Secretary prepares a so-called 'table of decisions', collects the formal written proposals of the meeting (by completing the CEN Commenting Form, column Secretariat Observations) and circulates these documents, together with the revised draft, to the TC for final decision to proceed to Formal Vote and to CCMC and other identified parties for information (optional).

3.11  The TC decides by taking a resolution on one of the following options:

• to submit a corrected version of the prEN to Formal Vote
  (go to process 'Formal Vote');
• to launch a second Enquiry on the prEN (2, 3 or 4 months)
  (go back to 3.1);
• to prepare a CEN/TS (go to process 'Technical Specifications');
• to prepare a CEN/TR (go to process ' Technical Reports');
• to stop the work.