What are harmonized technical rules?
The harmonized standards are standards in which it is described how to verify the requirements laid down by the directives in the field of security, health and environmental safeguard.
Who harmonized standards are developed?
The harmonized technical standards are developed by European Standardization Bodies: CENELEC for the products of the electrical / electronic compartment, FIND for products in telecommunications, CEN for the products of other sectors.
What it is determined in the harmonized standards?
Harmonized standards determine the suitability of a certain method of verification to assume that the product complies with the Directive.
These standards are called "harmonized", when their references are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (GUCE) in relation to a directive.
The full application of harmonized standards allows the manufacturer to place the product on the market without previously subjecting the technical construction file to a notified body.
This allows for, independently, the CE certification of products and the drafting of EC declaration of conformity.
The producer who is suitably equipped can perform the tests in its own laboratories or they will turn to a referral laboratory.
The EC Directives have compulsory nature?
Yup, Directives are mandatory. The manufacturer (if the product is manufactured in the EEA – European Economic Area) or importer (if the product is manufactured outside the EEA) It is obliged to draw up a technical file for CE marking containing the tests to which the product has been subjected.
The tests are specific to each product category and the technical file must be shown on request to the national supervisory authorities.
The EC standards are voluntary?
the term “volunteer” there is still confusion.
The EC Directives do not make it mandatory to adopt the harmonized standards, however it is always necessary to prove the compliance of the product with the requirements of the directives applicable to the product.
You can in fact choose other technical and procedural solutions to comply with the essential requirements set out in Directives. These solutions typically require more in-depth technical assessments and the involvement of a Notified Body. Although most challenging, the latter is the only feasible in the case of products which due to their technical characteristics can not be evaluated by applying to the entire harmonized standards.
When you contact a Notified Body?
The intervention of a notified body is required when all the applicable harmonized standards are not executed in full. The costs in this case are more especially because the test methods outside the standard should be evaluated in advance, developing and developed.
What is the fastest route to get the CE mark?
The quickest route, less expensive and more tutelante for the producer is the full adoption of all harmonized standards applicable to the product, In fact, these are the "recipe" developed and tested over time to verify that the product conforms to the requirements of the directives.