CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI Standards (European Norm Standards)

In order to guarantee the safety, dependability, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of items distributed inside the European Union (EU), it is essential to adhere to the standards established by the European Norm (EN). Each of these three key European standardization organizations—the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is responsible for the development of these standards. These groups are collaborating to create harmonized, standardized standards that promote trade, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with EU rules.

European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

With the exception of the electrotechnical and telecommunications industries, which the CENELEC and ETSI organizations specifically address, the CEN is responsible for producing standards for a variety of industries. The CEN standards encompass a wide variety of domains, such as consumer goods, buildings, and materials, among others.

Scope and Role:

• CEN is responsible for the development of voluntary standards that aim to promote free commerce, product safety, interoperability, and innovation over the entirety of Europe.
• For the purpose of ensuring that goods are in compliance with the required criteria for health, safety, and environmental protection, the standards developed by CEN provide support for EU policies and regulations.

Key EMC-Related Standards:

• Although CEN's major focus is not on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), there are some standards that overlap with those of CENELEC and ETSI. This is particularly the case in areas where electromagnetic compatibility crosses with other disciplines, such as medical devices and building materials, to name a few examples.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)

The goal of CENELEC is to develop standards in the field of electrotechnology, ensuring the safety and performance of goods classified as electrical or electronic. It is essential to have CENELEC standards in place in order to guarantee EMC in a wide variety of systems and devices.

Scope and Role:

• CENELEC is responsible for the development of standardized standards that are in accordance with EU legislation, such as the Low Voltage Directive and the EMC Directive. This ensures that products meet the key prerequisites for safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
• Through the process of harmonizing technical specifications and regulations, these standards contribute to the facilitation of the free movement of electrical goods within the European Union.

Key EMC-Related Standards:

• EN 55011: EN 55011 is a standard that is associated with CISPR 11 and focuses on the characteristics of radio-frequency disturbances related to industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment. It also includes limits and methods of testing.
• EN 55022: The standard EN 55022, previously associated with CISPR 22 and now replaced by EN 55032, outlines the limits and measurement methods for radio disturbance characteristics in relation to information technology equipment.
• EN 61000 Series: The EN 61000 Series is a big set of standards that cover a lot of different areas related to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). These include emission and immunity testing, as well as advice on how to keep electromagnetic interference to a minimum.

European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

Standards for telecommunications, television, and other electronic communications networks and services are the primary emphasis of the Electronic Task Force (ETSI). The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is an organization that plays a significant part in the process of producing standards that guarantee the interoperability and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of telecommunications equipment and services.

Scope and Role:

• For a wide variety of telecommunications technologies, including mobile communications, radio broadcasting, and internet technologies, the Electronic Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) generates standards.
• The ETSI's standards are of utmost importance in guaranteeing that telecommunications equipment satisfies electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) criteria and can function in a harmonic manner within the electromagnetic environment.

Key EMC-Related Standards:

• EN 301 489 Series: The Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM) standard for radio equipment and services is referred to as the EN 301 489 Series. This set of standards guarantees radio equipment's compliance with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) criteria, thereby preventing interference with other devices and services.
• EN 300 328: EN 300 328 is a Harmonized Standard that covers the fundamental requirements of article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive. It is a standard that covers wideband transmission systems, data transmission equipment that operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, and wideband modulation methods.

Integration and Harmonization

Harmonized Standards: All three organizations—CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI—cooperate in order to develop harmonized standards that are in accordance with directives issued by the European Union. There is widespread recognition of these harmonized standards across the European Union, which makes regulatory compliance, market access, and product interoperability easier to achieve.

EU Directives and CE Marking: Products that are in accordance with standardized requirements are eligible to be designated with the CE marking, which indicates conformity with applicable EU directives, including those that are associated with EMC. The European Economic Area (EEA) geographical boundaries require this marking for the lawful sale of items.