Technical Specifications 

To specify the actions required to prepare, approve, publish and update a Technical Specification (CEN/TS).

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

NOTE When CEN/TC is referred below, it also includes ECISS/TC and CEN Project Committees.

3.1   The BT or TC decides to develop a CEN/TS and allocates the work to a drafting body (e.g. to a TC/WG). The CEN/TS is included as a work item in the work programme.

NOTE: The decision to develop a CEN/TS may be as a result of a failure to gain consensus/approval of a prEN.

3.2   The drafting body either

a) drafts the CEN/TS, within the agreed time frame, in one of the CEN official languages and in accordance with the rules for the Internal Regulations Part 3; or

b) edits and adapts the FprCEN/TS on the basis of the failed prEN within the agreed timeframe.

3.3   The TC Secretary sends the FprCEN/TS 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. BSI, AFNOR and DIN are automatically notified thereof.

3.4   If appropriate, CCMC dispatches the FprCEN/TS to the CEN Consultants for assessment, following the process 'European Standards for citation in the Official Journal'.

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

3.6   CCMC allocates a FprCEN/TS number, sends the electronic documents via E-Trans to the relevant National Standards Bodies (NSBs) 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 the expiry of the time period, CCMC dispatches the FprCEN/TS in the available language versions to the CEN National Members for final approval

a) either in a CEN Technical Committee voting meeting (go to 3.9.1); or

b) by a vote by correspondence of the CEN National Members (go to  3.9.2).

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

3.9   Vote

3.9.1 Voting in meeting

3.9.1.1 The FprCEN/TS is circulated by CCMC to all CEN National Members at least 3 months before the voting meeting.

3.9.1.2 For organising a voting meeting, delegations are briefed in order to take into account the views of all interests concerned in the individual countries represented by CEN National Members.

3.9.1.3 The Technical Committee members comment only on the basis of documents which have been circulated by CCMC to all CEN National Members.

3.9.1.4 At the voting meeting the CEN/TC review the comments and decides by taking a resolution to put the FprCEN/TS to vote. The FprCEN/TS is then put to the vote (weighted) on the basis of the draft and the changes that have been agreed. Only delegations present may vote.

Resolution format (Word)

3.9.2 Voting by correspondence

3.9.2.1 The CEN National Members are granted a three-month term for consultation at national level. 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 three-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.

Internal Regulations – Part 2, clause  6.1.4,  6.2 and 11.3.3.3

CEN Commenting Form (Word)
GD - Use of the CEN Commenting Form at all stages

3.9.2.2 The E-balloting system automatically closes the vote once the deadline is reached. Via the E-Balloting platform, the responsible CEN Technical Body Secretary collates and assesses the results (weighted vote).

3.10 The Technical Committee Secretary circulates the voting report to the CEN National Members, with a copy to CCMC.

3.11  If the FprCEN/TS is approved, the responsible CEN/TC  incorporates any editorial comments received during the voting period using the text voted upon and made available by CCMC on the Weekly Output file, and makes the FprCEN/TS available to CCMC via E-Trans in the relevant reference language version 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. BSI, AFNOR and DIN are automatically notified thereof.

If the FprCEN/TS is not approved, a decision is taken by the responsible body to redraft the FprCEN/TS (go back to  3.2) or to process it as an alternative deliverable or to stop the work.

3.12 Within 4 weeks, CCMC edits the text in accordance with the Internal Regulations Part 3 and 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.

3.13 The relevant NSBs prepare the translations and return them via E-Trans to CCMC within the specified timescales (normally 4 weeks).

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

3.14 On receipt of the translations or immediately after expiry of the time period, CCMC dispatches the CEN/TS 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.
NOTE  Late incoming translations to CCMC are circulated on the Weekly Output file at the next available opportunity.

3.15 CEN National Members announce the existence of the CEN/TS in the same way as for the EN and make the CEN/TS available.

3.16  A CEN/TS is not amended but replaced by a new edition with a new date of edition.

NOTE: Corrigenda are possible.

3.17  The responsible CEN/TC shall ensure that the CEN/TS is reviewed at intervals of not more than three years, starting from its date of availability (dav).

3.18 The aim of such review is to re-examine the situation which resulted in the publication of the CEN/TS.
At each review, the responsible CEN/TC decides by taking a resolution on one of the following options, in accordance with the process for 'Delegated Decisions':

• an EN is now desirable, in which case the CEN/TS should be submitted for conversion to an EN through UAP or CEN Enquiry and Formal Vote.

NOTE: World Trade Organization (WTO) rules require 'international standards' to feature an identified public comment phase. The CEN/TS need not feature a public comment phase. Conversion of a CEN/TS to an EN should therefore be achieved through submission of the CEN/TS to CEN Enquiry and Formal Vote or UAP (combining the Enquiry and Formal Vote stages).

• the CEN/TS continues to represent the 'appropriate consensus' solution to the market need; in which case it should be confirmed for a further 3 years;
• the CEN/TS is obsolete or no longer serves the market need; in which case the CEN/TS should be withdrawn.

NOTE: Any decision to confirm a CEN/TS for another three years shall be accompanied by a valid justification from the CEN/TC.

Resolution  BT 22/2003

For more information, click here  (a)

Resolution format (Word)

Resolution format (Word)

3.19   CCMC informs the CEN National Members of the decision.