How CEN works

CEN uses a system of formal processes to produce EN standards, and the responsibilities are shared between:

33 National Members
The National Standards Organisations of the 28 EU Member States, plus 3 EFTA members (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), plus Turkey and North Macedonia, and the expertise they assemble from each country.

  • Vote for and implement European Standards (ENs) as national standards in their home countries, distributing and promoting them, while phasing out any pre-existing national standards that are in conflict.
  • Make up the delegations to the Technical Committees by identifying expertise in each country.
  • Provide the secretariats of the committees.
  • Finance more than 50% of the work.
  • In turn are largely financed by industry, the sale of standards, and government grants.

Associate Members
Broad-based European organisations, representing particular sectors of industry, consumers, environmentalists, workers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Eurobitume, EAPA (European Asphalt Paving Association) and FEHRL (Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories) are associate members of the Technical Committees overseeing the standardisation process for bitumen and asphalts.

  • Undertake to promote CEN and European standardisation.
  • Participate in the General Assembly (without voting rights).
  • Sit on the Administrative Board when policy matters are being discussed.
  • Sit on the Technical Board and any other technical body.
  • Receive all relevant documentation and information, including draft standards.

The CEN Management Centre - based in Brussels.

  • Manages the flow of documents, facilitates the smooth running of the numerous new and existing standard reviews each year, and also ensures all the rules are followed correctly.

Standards are produced by Technical Committees (TCs) comprising of representatives nominated by their national standardisation body (or associate member body). The drafting of the standards and test methods is done by Working Groups (WGs) which propose work items for  approval by the TC. The work is carried out in the Working Group, or in project related expert groups, so called Task Groups (TGs) that report to the respective Working Group. CEN/TC 336 Bituminous Binders has two WGs: WG1 Bituminous Binders for Paving and WG2 Fluxed Bitumen and Bituminous Emulsions.

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