Unique Acceptance Procedure 

To specify the actions required for the editing and the launch of the Unique Acceptance Procedure (UAP) and the communication of its results.

UAP combines either the CEN Enquiry and Formal Vote or the Primary Questionnaire/Updating Questionnaire procedure and Formal Vote.
This procedure is only applied if it is reasonable to suppose that the document is acceptable at European level in order to prevent further delays. It is often used to adopt an ISO document as an EN.

The following procedure applies to the CEN National Members, the Technical Committees (TC) and their Working Groups (WG), the CEN Consultants and the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC).

NOTE 1  When UAP is used on a reference document, a control should be made before any action to ensure that the use of this reference document complies with the copyright rules (see GD - Copyright and CEN/CENELEC Guide 8: CEN/CENELEC Guidelines for Implementation of the Common IPR Policy).

Within the context of this procedure, a reference document is a document published by an outside organisation (i.e. not CEN or CENELEC) that is likely to be considered as acceptable by the CEN National Members e.g. an ISO standard, a national standard, a document published by a European or international organisation, etc.

NOTE 2  See GD - Graphical symbols for information related to the preparation and the acceptance of all new graphical symbols to be used in ENs

Internal Regulations - Part 3 (E, F, D)

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

Agreement on the technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement)

 Guidelines for the implementation of the agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement)

3.1 The TC or BT (if the work item does not fall under the responsibility of a TC) decides to send the draft document to UAP and takes the appropriate TC or BT resolution.

In case of an amendment to an EN, the TC can decide to shorten the period of the UAP to 3 months. This is only possible on the condition that this request is written down in the form of a TC resolution asking for the application of a shortened UAP of 3 months and confirming that the draft amendment is simple and not controversial. The duration for the UAP should be reversed to 5 months if a CEN National Member makes substantiated objection. For more information, see process Amendments to European Standards).

Checklist for Action - UAP

Formatted resolutions:

• Launching of UAP on a Technical Committee work item

3.2 The TC Secretary and the Editing Committee (if any), together with the WG, if appropriate, finalise the editing of the relevant reference language version of the draft document in accordance with the Internal Regulations Part 3.

3.3 The TC Secretary sends the draft document via E-Trans in the relevant reference language to CCMC for precessing 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.

GD - Translation procedure

GD - Drafting of European Standards - Electronic preparation

3.4 CCMC allocates a reference number to the project.  If appropriate, CCMC dispatches the draft document to the CEN Consultants for assessment, in line with the process European Standards for citation in the Official Journal.

3.5 Once a positive assessment is received, CCMC carries out the relevant administrative tasks and edits the reference language version of the FprEN  in line with the Internal regulations Part 3.

3.6 CCMC finalises the reference language version of the FprEN after agreement on any modifications has been reached with the TC Secretary.

When finalised, CCMC sends the electronic documents, via E-Trans, to the relevant National Standards Bodies (NSB) in order to trigger the translation procedure of the remaining 2 official CEN language versions.

3.7 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 translations of the titles.

3.8 On receipt of the translations or immediately after expiry of the time period, CCMC dispatches the draft document in the available language versions to the CEN National Members, the Associates, the Affiliates, the EC and EFTA Secretariat, the TC Chairperson and the TC Secretary. This is done via the Weekly Output file that is uploaded onto an electronic platform (FTP site) on a weekly basis. CCMC also 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.

Dispatch Notice

GD - Translation of titles for publication in the Official Journal

3.9 The CEN National Members submit their vote and their comments, prepared using the CEN Commenting Form on the E-balloting platform on Livelink within the prescribed 5-month period. The CEN National Members are required to cast unconditional votes and to justify any abstention or negative vote.

In exceptional cases, an extension of one month may be allowed. Such requests shall be sent to production@cencenelec.eu.

In addition, the CEN National Members confirm, or comment on, the proposed date of announcement (doa), date of publication (dop) and date of withdrawal (dow). Any disagreement concerning the proposed doa, dop or dow is recorded by the CEN National Members in the CEN Commenting Form.

3.10 The E-balloting system automatically closes the vote once the deadline is reached. One day after the deadline of the UAP, CCMC establishes the voting report, compiles the comments 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. CCMC also evaluates whether the finalisation of the text will be handled at CCMC or will be referred back to the TC Secretary (resolution CA 7/1994).

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.
 
NOTE  A CEN Member may appeal within two months after receipt of the voting report (see process 'Appeal mechanism').

If the vote is positive, click here.

However, if the vote is negative, the TC decides (by taking a resolution) on one of the following options:

• To submit a modified version of the FprEN to a (second) Formal Vote (go to the procedure for Formal Vote);
• To submit a modified version of the FprEN to a second UAP (go back to Clause 3.1);
• To submit a modified working document to the CEN Enquiry and Formal Vote (go the procedure 'CEN Enquiry');
• To transfer the work to ISO within the framework of the Vienna Agreement, if appropriate;
• To change the type of deliverable;
• To delete the work item and release the standstill (see GD – Standstill for more information concerning the standstill principle).

If the voting results of a second UAP remain negative, the TC refers the matter to the BT via the principle of management by exception.

Formatted resolutions:

• Decision after a negative result on a first Formal Vote or UAP for work items mandated or under Order Voucher
• Decision after a negative result on a Formal Vote or UAP for work items neither mandated nor covered by an Order Voucher