Standardisation: Lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic

What lessons can be learned from the Covid-19 pandemic from the point of view of standardisation? A recent CEN-CENELEC report takes stock of the issue. It is an opportunity to recall that standards are a “valuable and readily available resource for quick and reliable solutions, especially in times of crisis. Indeed, more than ever, standards create confidence”.

Manufacturers have thus been able to use European standards to temporarily configure their production lines. The aim was to support the supply of essential medical equipment to healthcare professionals and patients. The standards were exceptionally made available free of charge. In consultation with the European Commission, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), it was thus possible to provide a committed and unified response in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

This CEN-CENELEC report is largely based on the work carried out by the Covid-19 Crisis Management Network (CMN) of National Coordinators, established in March 2020. It is based on four key lessons:

1. Fast track digital transformation
2. Explore resilient business models
3. Enhance stakeholder and policy engagement
4. Foster international cooperation and alignment.

Download the report (pdf)

Consult the CEN-CENELEC page dedicated to Covid-19