Report on Harmonisation of freshwater biological methods

Annex VI: Standardization process and CEN standards relevant tothe WFDA. THE STANDARDIZATION PROCESS1. The process of elaborating CEN standards is shown schematically in Figure 1.Essentially this can be broken down into two distinct phases:i. The elaboration of an advanced working draft. At this stage the comments ofinterested experts, including those working with ECOSTAT, the relevantcommissions and the broader scientific community, are welcomed directly. Thisbroad peer review with external experts continues through to the submission ofthe working document as a draft prEN (project European Norm).ii. When the working draft is submitted to the CEN/TC 230 Secretariat as a draftprEN it becomes an official document covered by CEN copyright. Subsequentcirculations are through the national member bodies and all comments fromnational experts are fed back officially through the same route and in an officialformat.2. The direct involvement of ECOSTAT and other experts is restricted to the firststage. Subsequent involvement of ECOSTAT experts can be most successfullymanaged through the national member (standards) bodies in individual countries.3. Voting on a new work item is by weighted majority and at least 5 member bodiesmust agree to have a practical involvement through nominated national experts. WG 2now requires the completion of (1.) before requesting a new work item on theassumption that the working document can be circulated with the new work itemproposal (NWIP). The text can then be submitted for CEN official procedure as soonas the NWIP is approved, such are the time constraints imposed by the CEN CentralSecretariat.103