On 6 October 2026, the European Commission proposed a new Regulation on European standardisation. It would replace Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and aims to make standards faster to develop, easier to access and more open to small businesses, while better serving the EU’s strategic interests.
Why the change?
Harmonised European standards are how most products show that they meet EU law, for example to obtain CE marking. Today, developing a standard requested by the Commission takes on average about six years. With fast-moving technologies and new EU legislation, this is often too slow. The proposal builds on the 2021 EU Standardisation Strategy and a 2025 evaluation of the current Regulation.
Main measures
This is a Commission proposal. The European Parliament and the Council will now negotiate it, so the final text may change before it is adopted and published in the Official Journal.
What it means for businesses and researchers
- Manufacturers could get the standards they need for CE marking sooner, and free access would cut costs, especially for SMEs.
- SMEs and start-ups would gain better opportunities to take part in drafting standards that shape their markets.
- Research organisations could bring results into standards more easily, in line with the EU code of practice on standardisation.
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