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Specific CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) activities cover electro-technical standardization in sectors including: electric vehicles, smart grids and smart metering, household appliances, electrical engineering, fibre optic communications, fuel cells, medical equipment, railways, and solar electricity systems. An increasing number of sectors are being addressed together by CEN (European Committee for Standardization), CENELEC and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) regarding, for example, innovative technologies, smart grids and eco-design.

(...) In 2015, CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) approved and published some 473 harmonized standards which were intended for citation in the EU Official Journal, in support of specific directives and regulations. CEN and CENELEC also accepted 14 new standardization requests from the European Commission, relating, inter alia, to eco-design and energy labelling of energy related products. (...)

In addition to the three European standardization organizations (ESOs), the European Commission plays a role in standardization by funding participation in the standardization process by small and medium-sized companies and non-governmental organizations, such as environmental and consumer groups and trade unions. (...)

Table 3.12 Roles of main actors in setting and executing EU standardization policy (Commission-requested standardization)
Main actors Tasks and/or roles
(...)
European stakeholder organizations meeting the criteria in Annex III and financed by the Union (Annex III organizations)
(...) - ensure that SMEs', consumers', workers' and environmental interests are made known to the Commission before the Union work programme (UWP) or new standardization requests are adopted; (...)

Box 3.2 New Legislative Framework
The NLF aims to: (i) improve market surveillance rules to better protect both consumers and professionals from unsafe products, including those imported from outside the EU. In particular, this applies to procedures for products which can pose danger to health or the environment;
(...)
Alignment of product legislation: A main objective of the Commission is to bring product harmonization legislation in line with the reference provisions of Decision 768/2008/EC. The following directives and regulations were aligned with these reference provisions:
(...)
3. Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment - Directive 2011/65/EU
(...)

(...) Conformity assessment procedures in the EU product legislation range from a self-certification examination and production quality control system, to a full quality assurance system, depending on the impact of the product on the protection of public interest (health, safety, environment, etc.). (...)

Only the products that fall within the scope of at least one of the 20 or more directives require the CE marking. These include, for example: the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU); the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC); the Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC); the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU); the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (2011/65/EU); and the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive (2014/30/EU).

Table 3.13 Principal SPS legislation in the EU in 2017
Legislation Last amended Note
Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules 2014a
On official controls for verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health, and animal welfare rules. The Regulation sets out general rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with rules aiming, in particular, at: (a) preventing, eliminating or reducing to acceptable levels risks to humans and animals, either directly or through the environment;
(...)
Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No. 228/2013, (EU) No. 652/2014 and (EU) No. 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC Repeal of Directive 2000/29/EC
Protective measures against the introduction of organisms which are harmful to plants or plant products.

The European Commission is responsible for developing draft proposals for legislation and, where the legislation delegates the authority, delegated acts. The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) is the principal regulatory body responsible for delivering opinions on draft implementing measures. The PAFF Committee is made up of 14 different sections, each responsible for different aspects related to SPS measures. [136] In addition, there are five committees that are also responsible for specific SPS-related issues:
• Regulatory Committee under Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms;
• Regulatory Committee under Directive 2009/41/EC on the contained use of genetically modified microorganisms;
• Standing Committee on Plant Variety Rights;
• Standing Committee on Zootechnics; and
• Biocidal Products Committee.

[136] General Food Law, Biological Safety of the Food Chain, Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain, Controls and Import Conditions, Animal Nutrition, Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Genetically Modified Food and Feed and Environmental Risk, Phytopharmaceuticals, Plant Health, Propagating Material of Ornamental Plants, Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species, Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture and Horticulture, Forest Reproductive Material, and Vine.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), established under the General Food Law of 2002, is an independent agency responsible for risk assessment for food and feed safety, nutrition, animal health and welfare, plant protection, and plant health, as well as, through environmental risk assessments, the possible impact of the food chain on biodiversity. The Health and Food Audits and Analysis Directorate (formerly known as the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO)) of the Commission is responsible for audits, inspections, and related activities to assess compliance with EU food safety and quality, animal health and welfare, and plant health legislation within the EU, and compliance with EU import requirements in third countries exporting to the EU.